University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Schussmeisters hits the slopes

Schussmeisters’ officers and staff, ca. 1977. Photo: UB ARCHIVES

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Published: January 27, 2010

Snow in the forecast? That’s good news for members of the Schussmeisters Ski Club Inc., an organization founded in 1960 by a group of UB students who embraced all aspects of skiing. These students established connections with Western New York ski areas, local ski shops and bus companies in an effort to bring affordable skiing to the UB community. During the 1960s, the club invited ski teams from other colleges and universities to ski meets that featured slalom, downhill and cross-country races, as well as ski jumping events.

The Schussmeisters became a student-run, non-profit corporation in 1972, offering memberships to UB students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of their immediate families. From December through March, club members can enjoy regularly scheduled outings to local ski areas, including Holiday Valley, Kissing Bridge, Cockaigne and Peek’n Peak.

Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, Schussmeisters is one of the largest and most active clubs at UB. With more than 2,100 members, the group ranks as one of the largest ski clubs in the Eastern United States. In past years, Schussmeisters has sponsored many out-of-town trips to popular skiing destinations in Vermont, Colorado and Switzerland, while jaunts to Mexico and the Caribbean have offered members and non-members an opportunity to enjoy warm-weather destinations. The Schussmeisters 2009-10 travel offerings include trips to Park City, Utah, and Killington, Vt., as well as a spring break sojourn in Cancún.

Schussmeisters is run by eight undergraduate students, a faculty/staff adviser and a full-time office manager. Kathy Witt, the club’s office manager for the past 23 years, describes the student-run corporation as “excellent preparation for getting a job.” Students who start out as volunteers can later apply for such positions as bus captain, head bus captain and finally, director. Many students enjoy their Schussmeisters experience so much that they keep in touch with the club long after graduation.

The Schussmeisters will mark its 50th anniversary with a party on July 24, 2010 at Kissing Bridge Ski Resort. The party, featuring music, food, a cash bar and prizes, is open to the public and everyone is invited to celebrate with the Schussmeisters, a UB club for all seasons!

To learn more about the anniversary party and other Schussmeisters events, click here.

—Kathleen Quinlivan, University Libraries