Get to know your KMC ski clubs

For many folks, summer is the best time of year. It’s the time for fun, outdoor activities, such as swimming, hiking and barbecuing. The summer months are great, no doubt, but don’t whine and bemoan the cold and dreary months of winter, because in Europe, they can bring even more fun than the summertime!

And luckily, in the KMC there are great ski and boarding clubs that will help ensure your winter is far from boring.

In the KMC we are fortunate to have not one, but two ski clubs that offer fabulous trips to some of the greatest ski areas in Europe.
If you’ve never skied or boarded before, you might at first write this opportunity off, but before you do, keep in mind a couple of things.

First, many of our members join simply for the camaraderie and opportunity to meet and make new friends as well as the opportunity to travel to beautiful resort villages in the Alps.

Second, many of our members are at the early stages of skiing and boarding and are beginners themselves. It’s never too late to learn a new hobby!

The Kaiserslautern-Westpfalz Ski Club is a small club. It is generally geared toward families with children and for people who enjoy a low key, quieter crowd. But don’t let that fool you, this club is all about having a wonderful ski experience. The president of this club is the amazing Heather Stenberg.

The Tannenbaum Ski Club is a larger club. In fact, they are the biggest ski club in Europe. This club is geared toward singles and couples who enjoy a very energetic crowd. The members like to have fun, and they have an infectious spirit that can make a ski trip an unforgettable experience. The president of this club is the incredible Nicole Gust.

Membership in both clubs is open to any individual, military or civilian, who has a desire to be a part of a fun club, meet and make lasting friendships, and to get out and enjoy Europe.

Each club holds twice monthly socials from September through May. The socials feature trip sign-ups, entertainment, refreshments and a chance to hobnob with fellow enthusiasts.

The beauty of ski clubs is the convenience they provide to their members.

A trip captain (TC) is assigned to each trip. The TC is responsible for running and organizing all aspects of the trip from sign-ups, payments and hotel arrangements to transportation and purchasing lift tickets. All you have to do is sign up, make your payment and drive to the centrally located departure point.

After loading, you’ll settle into your seat and enjoy the ride. Both clubs provide food and beverages on the bus. Depending on the location of the hotel, the TC may collect lift pass money and purchase the passes for you the next day. TCs will provide you with departure times, breakfast and dinner times, and help you find the lifts.

Sometimes the lifts are within walking distance from the hotel, sometimes you’ll take public transportation, and sometimes the group will use its own bus and go to the lifts together. It all depends on the location.

When the weekend comes to an end, the bus will return you to the original parking area.

The cost of a trip varies depending on the destination. The price for most trips includes bus transportation, hotel room, breakfast and dinner, and food and beverages on the bus. You’ll be responsible for paying for your lift ticket, lunch on the slopes and drinks at dinner.

Bus trips usually depart on Friday afternoons and, depending on the weekend, return Sunday or Monday evenings. Trips can take anywhere from six to nine hours depending on the destination.

Both ski clubs provide its members with not only an opportunity to ski Europe, but to see and do other interesting things as a group. For example, the clubs also take trips to Oktoberfest, the Bad Dürkheim Wine Fest, other wine probes and river cruises. They foster positive relations among their members, the KMC and the European skiing communities through both skiing and social functions.

The Kaiserslautern-West Pfalz Ski Club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Bistrorante Paradox in Ramstein-Miesenbach.

Complete club information can be found at www.kwestpfalzskiclub.com or on Facebook.

The Tannenbaum Ski Club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Ramstein Belgian Club.
Complete information can be found at www.tannenbaumskiclub.org or on Facebook.

You owe it to yourself and your family to take advantage of the opportunities the area ski clubs offer. If you haven’t been to the Alps in winter, you’re missing out on one of Mother Nature’s wonders.

Hopefully, by now you’re interested in at least checking in on what the ski clubs have to offer.