European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ski club the Hassu free Way to cheaper fun and trave by Chuck Roberts staff writer joining a ski club is perhaps the easiest and cheapest Way to ski in Europe. It s also a Good Way to meet others who share the love of the slope. Ski clubs make everything easy for the member. It s As simple As signing up showing up for the bus and having a great weekend on the Snow. The most difficult part is deciding whether to take the weekend trip to luxurious Zermatt Switzerland or kit Buhel Austria. Quot when we get on the bus at 5 . We leave everything behind that happened to us during the week Quot said John Drydale president of the Mannheim International ski club. The last thing most people want to do at the end of a hard work week Drydale said is to climb into their car and drive several hours in the dark looking for their ski destination. The Heidelberg International ski club makes boarding the bus especially pleasant. Members have a bottle of chilled White wine waiting for them in their seat and a warm meal served to them. At the end of bus ride skiers have a room waiting for them and breakfast waiting for them when they Wake in the morning. After a hard Day on the slopes the bus is waiting to take them Back to the hotel for a hot Shower and dinner. The person who makes everything easy is the trip Captain. That s the club member who takes care of hotel and bus reservations and usually Sells lift passes at the hotel to save members the time and worry of standing in line at the ski resort. Bus trips offered by clubs usually Are More convenient than those offered by tour companies. While tour company buses can spend hours driving from military Community to military Community picking up passengers most ski clubs charter a bus that travels Only from the Home base to the destination. Club membership usually costs about $25 for a single person and $35 for a family. Meetings Are informal affairs where members can socialize and sign up for advertised trips. After Reading the brochures and talking with the trip representative at the sign up table spots can be reserved by paying the full amount or a Deposit of about $30. The Frankfurt club is offering a thanksgiving trip to Zermatt for four nights with two meals each Day for 560 Marks $340 for a single room with a Bath. A trip to Ober gurgle Austria for two nights with two meals each Day costs 290 Marks $1 75 for a single room with a Bath. In addition to Price and convenience there Are other reasons for joining a ski club. A Swiss ski instructor leads his class Down a gentle slope. Swiss resorts though expensive remain popular destinations for american ski clubs