This winter, two Verona High School students joined together to form what they are calling the “VHS Ski Team.” Since it is not school-sanctioned, most people do not know exactly what it is. According to co-founder and VHS junior Seamus Elliot, “Ski Team is a group of VHS students who love skiing and want to get as much out of the 2014-2015 season as we can.”

Seamus, who has loved skiing and snowboarding for five years, joined together with senior Ella Yarmo-Gray, a fellow skier and one of his closest friends. “Ella and I just decided one day that we want to be Ski Team. We love skiing and the skiing community,” said Seamus. Since the two founders are so passionate about the activity, they figured they should share their passion with their VHS peers.

VHS Ski Team is not run through the school; it is instead an independent group run by and for VHS students only. According to Seamus, the team will try to push for school involvement soon. “As of now, it’s a small group of us who make a trip to Mountain Creek on weekends to ski and snowboard.”

Mountain Creek, located in Vernon, New Jersey, is the peak most frequently visited by the team because of its proximity. Seamus and Ella bring their own equipment, but it is easy to rent boots and skis at the mountain. Between the start of the New Year and the middle of January, VHS Ski Team made two trips to Mountain Creek.

VHS Ski Team has gained its publicity through word of mouth as well as social media. You can follow them at @VhsSkiTeam on Twitter and Instagram, where they post upcoming events about the team and pictures of their trips.

The team is trying to expand as much as possible, so feel free to join. If you are interested, contact Seamus or Ella.  Seamus says “you won’t regret joining the ski team, because it’s such a fun adrenaline rush and a great community. And honestly, board is life.”