The vibe, the culture, the attitude8212;that is what One Love is all about.
That love brings people together from all across campus and unites them with a common passion for snow and the ability to tear it up.
Utah is said to have the best snow on Earth, which explains the accumulation of skiers and snowboarders statewide. This concentration is particularly high at the U. The only drawback of having so many winter enthusiasts in one area is, they might not all agree with one another on how to enjoy the fresh powder. That’s where the U’s ski and snowboard club One Love comes into the picture.
Ever since the Snurfer, which signalled the birth of snowboarding in 1965, old-school skiers and the new kids on the block have clashed. Debates about which sport is more challenging or which can pull off the better maneuver has been a constant on the mountain every winter since. One Love was designed to put an end to all this bickering between the two and to unite a community of riders who have a common interest8212;snow.
“We all like the same passion,” said Kyle Olson, president of One Love. “Snow is snow. Skiing is skiing. Snowboarding is snowboarding. I mean it’s different, but still one love.”
Two years ago, the Utah Snowboarding Association merged with its supposed foes and formed the club. Jason Eder and Leif Smith were the original founders of One Love and wanted to stop the segregation and increase the number of members.
“Our side of the deal was, we felt numbers meant better discounts,” Olson said. “We have more (discount) power behind us as far as what we can do with (the group) if we do get a big enough group of kids to make a difference.”
Because the club is continually growing, it is easier for it to gain more sponsors, which results in massive discounts for its members. For a $10 membership fee, a member of One Love can buy discounted resort season passes, which come with discounts to local shops as well as major corporations, such as Skullcandy. One Love can be found outside the west part of the Union near the Free Speech Area. Information on resort discounts can be found there.
For Olson, the club has a greater vision this year aside from discounts.
“This year, our main goal is to push our number of members past 1,000, and right now we are definitely on track for that,” Olson said. “As for goals for the future, we look to just promote the sport in general. Try to bring as much activities and events to the university to entertain the kids and more specifically to get our members amped for the winter season.”
One Love looks to extend its existence to a year-round club rather than just a winter-season affair. It hosts events throughout the fall, such as movie premieres and concerts, to get people thinking about the season and follows up in the spring with rail jams and an annual spring trip.
This is Olson’s first year running the One Love show and his second year as a member. He has been skiing since he was 3, and it has become his passion over the years. A main reason he moved from Minnesota to Utah was for the mountains, and he wanted to get involved right away.
“I kind of just jumped in and felt the vibe of it,” Olson said. “It was an up and coming thing here at the University of Utah. I had to be a part of it. I wanted to make a change, make a difference in the whole thing.”
Everyone, from beginner to expert of either sport, has the opportunity to unite and help each other move forward.
“Not a lot of people can understand what goes on up on that mountain, but between the people that do, it’s a passion,” Olson said. “It draws a lot of people in from different areas and unites everyone as one.”