Riders of Liberty’s Snowflex ski and snowboard team put on a show for the university’s annual College For A Weekend spectators. The demo featured Snowflex’s slopes, jumps and rails with team and local riders showcasing the facility’s full scope of obstacles.
“We want to show people … what Snowflex has done for them,ˮ Isaac Gibson, the programs coordinator for Snowflex and the ski and snowboard team coach, said. “We want to put on a show for CFAW students who are visiting to show people the potential of Snowflex and what it has to offer.ˮ
Gibson knows the uniqueness of terrain that Snowflex has and how it can leave a big impression on its first-time riders.
“I think some people come out here for their first time and try it only to think, ‘Oh, this is kind of tough.’ Maybe they have ridden snow, and because this is not an exact replica of snow they question if it can really take them far with skiing and snowboarding,ˮ Gibson said. “And when we have a demo, when we can show people fully utilizing it, I think it will show them that although they may not be very good right now, (they) can clearly utilize the entire slope to get to a higher level.ˮ
A member of the skiing and snowboarding team and sophomore Ben Scully said Snowflex gave him the opportunity to become better at what he loves.
“Snowflex is awesome because it gives me a chance to learn how to snowboard without needing any snow,ˮ Scully said. “It also gives us a crazy advantage over other teams in competition because we can practice all year and learn new tricks all year round while they’re stuck just in the winter … especially being from Hawaii, I had never heard of anything like this before. It’s definitely a blessing.ˮ
For the people visiting during CFAW, the event provided a fun opportunity for those trying out Snowflex for their first time or standing aside to let the team riders take over and put on a show.
Mario Gomez, a guest for CFAW and first-time snowboarder on the synthetic carpet, packed his weekend full of activities.
“It’s not just Snowflex that impresses me so much about Liberty — it’s all the different things they are doing this weekend for CFAW here on campus,ˮ Gomez said. “I went to Convocation, got to see the whole campus, went snowboarding and am going to go ice-skating later tonight. This is the first day I have been here and already I feel like I have done so much.ˮ
Licari is a news reporter.