Never Enough Time Snowboard Team Helps Satisfy Group Of Enthusiasts

Ten hours a week snowboarding? Sounds like a lot of time spent going downhill.

But if it were up to Eric Haskins, it would be more like 10 hours a day.

Haskins, a freshman at Lewis and Clark High School, is one of about 10 snowboarders who is on the Mt. Spokane snowboard team. The group, coached by longtime boarder Mark Harris, moved from 49 Degrees North to Mt. Spokane this season. It’s all the better for Haskins, who can spend less time in the car and more time on the mountain.

“I’d go every day, but that’s all we can squeeze in,” he said.

Fifteen-year-old Haskins is one of Harris’ old-time boarders. After learning how to ski - on his father Charles’ recommendation - Haskins switched to snowboarding.

“My dad thought the best thing was for me to try to find a race team like my brother (Curtiss) did for skiing,” Haskins said. “He found the snowboard team at 49.”

Haskins has been on the team since the sixth grade, which amounts to four winters of discipline and dedication. The hardcore boarders train Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and soon will be adding Thursday nights.

There also are those who prefer the one-day-a-week training. If anything, it’s lighter on the pocketbook. Training fees are $395 for one day from December to April and $495 for both days. It’s an additional $150 for Thursday nights. Athletes train and compete in slalom, giant slalom, halfpipe, slope style, boardercross and big air.

“I like my athletes to be well-rounded and do everything,” said the 32-year-old Harris, who began snowboarding 15 years ago.

Harris’ team is affiliated with the The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding.

When Haskins joined, he was one of about four boys on the team. Interest has picked up over the years, but there’s still miles of room for expansion. Haskins, who has been most successful in boardercross events, has become one of Harris’ best recruiters.

“I tell my friends that racing is more competitive than being off on your own,” Haskins said. “It just pushes you to be better.”

There’s still plenty of time for interested snowboarders to join. Harris said the first event his team is planning to compete in is Jan. 19-21 at Big White Ski Resort outside Kelowna, British Columbia. Throughout the winter, the team will compete at area and regional events, finishing in early April at the Canadian Nationals at Big Mountain.

Mt. Spokane will host a competition Jan. 27-28 which will serve as a qualifier for collegiate nationals. Harris expects about 300-400 riders, about 80-100 of them snowboarders.

For more information on joining the team, call 448-5731 or Mt. Spokane at 238-2220 (extension 303).

At Schweitzer, the Schweitzer Mountain Riders team has been going strong since the mid-‘90s. Mark Stegall, coach of the team for four winters, said new members are always welcome. The cost is $300 for 12 Saturdays or $500 for 12 Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information, call the Schweitzer Learning Center at 208-263-9555.