European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 19, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine University of Maryland students receive one College credit for a four Day ski course in the bavarian mountains. Class i m credit on the Story and photos by Dan Wollam Stuttgart Bureau everyone knows a Colleg education can be demanding the late nights of studying the history courses mat courses literature courses skiing courses. Skiing courses yep. At least at the University of Maryland students can take a one semester hour course in carving the slopes. Although College level skiing courses might sound like another of the How i became a College graduate by taking Basket weaving stories Maryland has made the course creditable by having a world class skier As the instructor. Magnus Bucher one time German National intercollegiate ski Champion and twice a selectee As a member of olympic ski teams teaches the Maryland course. Bucher and his assistants make sure the students earn their semester hour of credit. Students learn All the ski tricks from Basic Snow blowing to advanced slalom techniques. The class of about 30 students is broken into four groups of beginner intermediate advanced intermediate and advanced skiers. Some of the students found they Learned enough during the four Day course to Challenge some of the toughest Hills at the Sadelfeld ski area in Southern Germany although they had been on skis Only a few Days. If you put a lot into it you get a lot out said student skier Vickie Tripp. If this had been a full three credit hour course we d All be professionals by the time we got done said beginning skier Wendi White. The first three Days of class include morning and afternoon lessons. On the fourth Day students Are Given a practical test on the slopes covering the techniques they Learned. They then take a Short written exam which tests their knowledge of skiing concepts and terms. Students earn credit on one of three Levels during the course beginning intermediate or advanced. Some students repeat the course at higher Levels and earn additional credits. David Holmes one of the assistant instructors said the class is often important to students academically because students sometimes need the one credit to Complete their College requirements. For the students practical considerations weighed evenly with fun As motivation for taking the course. I really like skiing and you get credit at the same time said Patrick Troxel a Sophomore studying business management. Troxel will be leaving Germany to finish his education in the United states. The skiing credit in t bad because lots of universities in the states have a three hour physical education requirement Troxel said. Bucher who gives All of the on the slope tests takes College ski lessons seriously because his skiing prowess. Contributed to his education. After becoming the German National Champion in 1947, he earned a ski scholarship to the University of Denver in Colorado. He became a member of the  National championship team while he earned a master s degree in physical education and a doctorate in history. Before going to America he was selected As a member of the German olympic team for 1948, but Germany following the War was t allowed to compete in the olympics. He was selected As a member of the . Team for 1952, but could t compete because he was t an american citizen. In 1983 he came in fourth in the German National skiing and Tennis championships. The next year he took third spot in the senior world championships in giant slalom and Cross country. Maryland offered the ski course three times this year. Bucher said he wants to offer the course four times next year with the first trip in october and the last in april. Students at the Maryland Campus pay about $90 for the four Days of instruction including transportation to and from the slopes via bus and lift passes. There s also a $10 administration fee for Munich Campus students. Bucher said that in 14 years of teaching skiing for Maryland he has never had a night division student in his class although they Are eligible to take the ski course. Those students would pay part time tuition of $73 plus the tour expense fee of about $90. Information about dates and exact costs is available at local education centers. Bucher said the trips always fill quickly. Sometimes there Are 100 people on the waiting list he said. Ski instructor Magnus Bucher gives students some pointers. Wednesday March 19, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13