Club co-advisor John Brietzke
About me
Winter Park 2007 (click to see larger images):
Winter
Park 2006:
Big
Mountain, MT 2005:
Winter Park 2004:
Winter Park 2003:
Vail Colorado
2002:
I am a lucky man! I have a wonderful wife, three great children, a super son-in-law, other terrific family members and some really great friends. I am really also lucky because I get to go skiing every winter!!
I first started to ski when I was about 18 years old. I went with two of my friends who I had competed against and with in various sports. They took care of me good! One trip down "bunny hill" and I was ready for the black diamonds of Afton Alps! I did not know how to stop or even turn. I remember thinking, "This is CRAZY!" I am at the top of mountain with two sticks on my feet! Oh Well! Cowabunga! I started going faster and faster and faster. I flew over one Mogul and speared the next one. I laid there and thought, this time I really did it! All my ski's, poles, hat, and gloves were spread all over the hill. I moved one hand to see if it was broken, I moved a leg to see if it would still work. People on the lifts were cheering and laughing. The ski patrol came over and asked if I was OK. I honestly said "I do not know", I got up and put the ski's back on; I fell five more times before I got to the bottom of the hill. I snowplowed a right turn most of the way. After that I took the ski patrol's advise and stayed on the greens and blues for the rest of the morning. That afternoon I was skiing the black diamonds with my friends. I have skied many times since, but I will never forget the first time I skied! I would strongly recommend that new skiers take a ski lesson, or stay on the beginning hills until they feel they are ready for the bigger hills.
I became a ski advisor the first time in early 80's. It was a great experience. The club was very large and we had many students who went on the various trips. The annual Colorado trip was really special. I still visit and talk about it with some of the former student/staff participants.
The club eventually died since no one wanted to be the ski advisor. It takes time and money to be the advisor. I was lacking both of those items, so I resigned. I always felt bad that this great club had disappeared from NIACC. I was having lunch with Dr. Buettner (former NIACC President) in 1999 and I brought this topic up. He encouraged me to find a co-advisor and start the club up again. I had lunch with Bruce McKee and he expressed interest. He had been the club advisor at a different Community College. It was a perfect match and the NIACC Ski and Snowboard Club is "up and running".
I have since skied many places with the club in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Montana and Colorado. It is fun meeting and skiing/ snowboarding with the students/friends/staff/faculty of NIACC. Life is short and life is GOOD! Think Snow!!
THINK SNOW!
NIACC Ski and Snowboard Club
North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401-7299,423-1264 or 1-888-GO NIACC
www.niacc.edu