- The Flying Dutchmen Ski Club was founded in 1959 as a non-profit club by a small but lively group of skier who wanted to both improve their skiing ability and to promote the sport of skiing. So that they would have a place to ski, the members of the club during the early days donated their time and effort to build a ski lift at Levan's Mill west of the Kutztown area.
After this closed, the FDSC called other ski areas home, such as Sharp Mt. in Pottsville, Hahn Mt. (formerly Big Valley) north of Lenhartsville, and Blue Marsh Ski Area (formerly Heidelberg) near Bernville. As a way to encourage snowboarders to join the club the FDSC incorporated snowboarding lessons to the lesson program in
1997. Currently the FDSC uses Bear Creek Ski Area (formerly Doe Mt.) to do what they were organized to do, i.e. teach members to ski safely and skillfully.
Hundreds of ski club members have learned to ski through our instructional program and many of those students have gone on to become instructors themselves, donating their time and effort in the promotion of safe skillful skiing and snowboarding.
Many of our members have also become accomplished trip organizers with well-run ski trips to the Poconos, Eastern and Western USA, Canada, and Europe. These trips are great because they are so affordable and there are many great friendships formed on them as well.
Around 1975 the FDSC Racing Team was formed and it has had many outstanding seasons competing locally, in New England, and even in the West at National Championships. Novice through expert skiers are encouraged to participate because race training improves everyone's skiing skills.
Around 1978 the club purchased a ski lodge at Lake Naomi in the Poconos. The lodge is available to members for rental at very reasonable rates not just during the ski season but also through the entire year.
Ski club members also receive a monthly newsletter that keeps everyone both updated and entertained. The "Ski Trails" publication has become a standard of excellence for other area clubs in that it has consistently won honors for many years running.
The FDSC also offers extensive and various social activities such as the Wildwood Weekend, Golf Outing, Halloween and Irish Wake parties, and an on-the-mountain Winter Carnival.
Regular meetings are held the first and third Thursday of the month between September and March. April through August meetings are on the first Thursday of the month only.
09/2003
|
