By Matt Petraglia
Tyler Welch, better known to his friends as Ty, often finds himself as one of only a few males in his classes at Towson University. He sees the same trend at his clinicals at local hospitals.
In the United States, for every nine and a half nurses, there is just one male. Welch, a Towson senior from Atlantic City, is striving to be part of that one.
The ratio doesn’t bother Welch though, he sees it as an opportunity to grow and become successful in the medical field.
Currently, Welch is working in the labor and delivery department of Howard County General Hospital, ran by Johns Hopkins Medical. “Different,” is how he describes being one of the few males in the department, “that field is definitely more for women.”
“Being a male in that department is tough,” he said. “I feel like I can’t relate as well as a female could, for obvious reasons,” he said while laughing.
Welch didn’t always want to be a nurse, however. He came to Towson University looking to graduate as an athletic trainer, but then switched to nursing after getting a part-time job in a hospital as an ER Technician.
“My mom knew someone who worked in a hospital back at home, I worked there for a little while and realized this might be something I want to do,” said Welch. “I knew there would be more opportunity for me coming out of school with a nursing degree rather than one in athletic training.”
Opportunity is just one thing that drove Welch however. In fact, his grandmother was also a nurse, and in fact, the first female CEO of the National League of Nursing.
The transition to nursing doesn’t come easy. Welch says he has seen his fair share of male nurse discrimination through his clinicals and school work while at Towson.
“I’ve been teased by people for wanting to be a nurse, I’ve been treated differently by professors, I’ve even had patients refuse to accept my care while at clinicals, all because I’m a male,” he said. “None of it bothers me though.”
Welch describes the stigma that society has created about gender in the medical field: “Males are supposed to be doctors, females are supposed to be nurses,” he says. “That’s how society has made it out to be. It’s still a growing field for [males], I’m in the minority and I guess people aren’t used to it yet.”
From https://visual.ly?utm_source=content-
Junior nursing student Laura Benson agrees. “Until recently, society’s expectation of men is for them to be stoic, strong and masculine, so going into a more ‘feminine’ role as a nurse may not appeal to men as they want to maintain their manly image.”
The stigma also can carry some negative connotations. Welch says some people think that male nurses, “couldn’t make it as doctors,” and that’s why they’re in nursing. That couldn’t be further from the truth, he says.
Nursing is a major at Towson that is notorious for carrying the highest workload. Benson said most of her week is devoted to all things school and nursing related.
“On average I probably spend anywhere from 25-35 hours a week between classes, clinicals, and studying,” she said. “If it’s an exam week it can be more like 40. Just last week I spent 16 hours studying for an exam.”
This is a similar routine for Welch. Every Wednesday he wakes up at 5 a.m. and is out the door by 5:30 a.m. for his clinicals, just one part of his studying to become a nurse.
Matt Finn, Welch’s roommate, said he’s seen a large increase in the amount of time Welch puts into his studying.
“I’ve seen him step up his studying in the past two years, “He’s preparing a lot more and homework has definitely taken priority over other things.”
The medical field is always growing as technology and science advances are constant. As the importance of healthcare develops, it’s certain that the role of male nurses will become more prevalent.
It takes a special person to be a nurse, regardless of gender. “People like Ty are changing the narrative in society,” Finn said. “And that’s really good for the future.”
Spring Break on the Board
I
t’s becoming that time again folks, and while most people are going to go somewhere tropical and warm to spend their spring break, die hard borders like us will seek colder temperatures and an elevation above sea level.
There are a number of sites offering great deals for spring break like SnowPak and litopia. But act fast, a lot of offers are selling out quickly.
Spring might be one of my favorite times to ride, some days it’s warm enough to take much of your layers off and just ride in a t shirt in some parts of the country. Other’s you won’t need anything but your hoodie.
Now I know that the main focus of what I talk about is Northeastern focused, but hey, it’s spring break, why not take a trip somewhere? Some of the best spring skiing has been said to be out West, and while I’m super familiar with the West, the experts over at On The Snow are. They’ve done much of the work for you already on their spring break guide for those who prefer snow over sand. They put it best, stating, “the 31-day stretch is a profitable time for powder hounds on the lookout for some of the season’s best conditions. Ski resort base depths are usually at their best this late into the season and the holiday crowds of December and January are long gone.”
California seems to be the place of interest when it comes to spring snow. Holding four of the top five resorts in base depth; Mammoth Mountain, Squaw Valley, Donner Ski Ranch, and Sugar Bowl lead the pack. But coming in fifth is an unlikely candidate, and one I’ve even been to (and may have mentioned a few times before), Mont Tremblant in Quebec.
Base depths are the most important part of warm-weather riding. While the air temperatures are warming and there won’t be as much snowfall, a lower and upper base of 165”-235” like that at Mammoth Mountain in California will hold for the rest of the month for riders to enjoy.
Brands like Capita have even taken advantage of spring break by creating a whole line of boards dedicated to the occasion, and they’re a pretty sight if you ask me (someone buy me one please).
Another great thing about being a snowboarder in the spring is getting to take advantage of all the great sales going on.
Shops want to clear house to make room for spring and summer clothing, they don’t want it cluttered with big jackets, pants and boots, so you can typically find really good gear at a really great price this time of year. Check out The House or Evo, sale both are running killer sales right now.
What are your favorite things about snowboarding in the spring? Leave a comment down below if you’re just like me and prefer to be bombing a mountain than laying on the beach… or am I crazy?
Celebrate The Stash at Killington’s Annual Slash and Berm Event
Killington Resort in Colorado is hosting its sixth annual Slash and Berm event on March 8-10 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the coveted Stash terrain park.
The Slash and Berm is a downhill slalom snowboard event taking place in The Stash terrain park at Killington Mountain in Vermont, proceeds from the event benefit the Burton Chill Foundation. The course features natural and manmade features that the park crew set up to create an epic course for this year’s event.
Check out this video from a previous year’s event:
Snowboarder Magazine says, “The Stash terrain park that offers a unique spin on traditional races. Park Crew designs the course around iconic features from the all-natural wooded park while sending racers into berms and around gates.”
Festivities kick off Friday March 8 at the Darkside Snowboard Shop in Killington with free barbeque for the preregistration party for the events on Saturday and Sunday. A special slalom event on Burton throwback boards will be held on Friday too with three divisions, Open Men, Open Women, and Groms. The winners of these events will get free entry into the Slash and Berm event this weekend.
Moutain Times says, “Saturday’s event is open to all snowboarders and will be timed individually. The action continues on Sunday with the newly formed Grom event to take place in the Lil’ Stash at Ramshead.”
There’s still time to register for the event, entry fees include a donation to the Chill Foundation and are $60 for open divisions, and $30 for groms. Visit killington.com for more information on the event or how to register yourself in. You can also get tickets here while supplies lasts.
Slalom snowboarding is pretty different than the freestyle type of riding I’ve mentioned in other posts. Most people only think of slalom skiing but there’s actually a whole other part of slalom just focused on snowboarding.
Check out this video from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Killington’s Slash and Berm even takes a cool twist on the traditional slalom style however. They incorporate different park features like jumps and wall rides into the course, making it sort of like a freestyle-slalom variant, which is truly unique and what makes it such a cool event. Riders also typically use their regular boards rather than a slalom board, which adds another cool twist.
The Burton Chill Foundation works with children and young people to inspire them through different board sports. “Since inception, Chill has grown to 15 cities across North America, and several international affiliate programs in Italy, Austria, Australia, Japan, and the Czech Republic. We run programs at 15 sites: Baltimore, Boston, Burlington, Chicago, D.C., Denver, Detroit, Salt Lake City, New York City, Los Angeles, Portland, Reno, Seattle, Vancouver, and Toronto. Participants range in age from 10-18 years old.” https://www.chill.org/our-work
To volunteer to help the Chill Out Foundation, click here.
Summertime Snow Sadness
It’s becoming the time that most people are getting tired of winter and can’t wait on summer’s arrival. But what if you’re a snowboarder and that’s all you want to do?
You’re in luck if you’re in the northeast, because one of the best Snowflex mountains around is right here for you to get your fix.
Snowflex is what you’re looking for when you just need to get that summertime snowboarding session in. It’s a synthetic snow surface made to feel and perform just like regular snow would.
At Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia, they have one of the best Snowflex mountains with 2 slopes plus a terrain park.
Check it out.
I talked to Jacob Mitchell, a friend of mine and avid Northeast snowboarder. He’s actually ridden at Liberty’s Snowflex complex.
“It was really cool because when I went it was in the middle of spring and warm,” said Mitchell, “I was riding in just a t-shirt.”
But being able to ride in just a t-shirt wasn’t the only thing exciting about it, “it’s really good to practice and has some more give than regular snow,” he said, “it gave me a lot of confidence and I was even able to master tricks I’d have been too scared to try on snow.”
But there’s one thing about Snowflex that is discouraging more places from having it, its cost. According to Snoflex’s financial FAQ page the cheapest offering is anywhere from two to five million dollars. After seeing that, it became apparent to me why Liberty University is the only one around.
Luckily, you and I don’t need to fork over that kind of cash, a daytime pass is only 20-30 dollars, you’ll just have to drive down to Virginia to take advantage of it.
So, what other suggestions are there for snowboarding in the summer? Well, you could fly to somewhere cold like Australia or New Zealand, a little more expensive however.
Or, you could try a Freebord.
Essentially, a Freebord’s purpose is to mimic that of a snowboard, but on pavement by combining elements from both.
It’s a really cool concept actually and really feels similar to a snowboard, but does take some getting used to, but if that’s what it takes to get you your fix then so be it, there’s another alternative.
So we’ve discussed three ways you can “snowboard” in the summer, but which one is best for us Northeastern riders? I’d have to go with the Snowflex and here’s why.
Snowflex is the closest thing to real snow we can get in this part of the country during the warmer months, it puts you in your actually set up and lets you ride for real, rather than a modified skateboard version, not that that’s not a good idea either though.
It’s the cheapest. You already have your board and other equipment, all you have to do is come up with 25-30 to pay for your day pass, where a Freebord is a couple hundred at least, and we don’t want to get into a trip across the country.
So, there you have it, some ways that you can cure your summertime snowboarding withdrawals. Comment below and let me know if I missed anything, or if you have any other ideas!
East vs. West: Who has the superior snow?
An age-old debate in the ski/snowboard community is which side of the country is best. In actuality, it really isn’t fair to compare the two.
No, not because one is better than the other, they’re just simply different.
The main reasons for such differences can probably be chalked up to the differences in climate. In the Rockies out west, there is a significant elevation difference than the Appalachian regions here in the east.
To put this in perspective, the highest point in the Rockies is Mount Elbert, it sits at a cool 14,440 feet above sea level. The Appalachians over here on the east coast are less than double that. Mount Mitchell is the highest point sitting at a mere 6,684 feet above sea level.
The huge difference in elevation is the main cause of different climates. East resorts usually average somewhere between 1,000 – 4,000 feet according to an article from The Denver Post. Being lower in the atmosphere, east coasters are usually the victims of wetter conditions, which is why you always hear about how icy it is.
West resorts can take you above 10,000 feet.
Do you understand why I’m saying it’s so different yet?
The consistency of weather out west also plays a huge factor in the differences. Constant snowfall and steady temperatures usually equal out to high quality powder rather than the hard-pack that most easterners are used to.
Being a resident of the east coast myself, I see the weather changes and can understand why the snow conditions fluctuate.
An On The Snow weather report talks about a large winter storm coming that would affect most of the country later this week. It further proves the point of fluctuating temperatures in the east stating a strong cold front would come followed by warming temperatures after. All the while the west is staying consistent with snowfall.
Now, I myself haven’t been out West, so I can’t really provide personal insight on the topic, but I know exactly who can.
Adam Rice has been skiing since he was two years old. He’s skied up and down the north east, his dad is even on ski patrol at Liberty Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania. But Adam doesn’t limit himself to just the east. He’s pretty much toured all of Colorado on his skis to I figured he’d be a good resource to help up debunk the debate of which coast is better.
“Honestly the main difference is in the snow,” said Rice, it’s a lot less humid out [west] so the snow is lighter and literally like powder, versus [the east] where it’s heavy and wet.”
Adam agrees on the topic however, “I don’t think one is better than the other, you can’t compare, they’re just so different and I like different things about both of them.”
“I can’t say that I prefer one over the other either,” said Rice, “When we were up in Tremblant it was unlike anything I’d done before, but I can say the same about Colorado for the bowls and the powder.”
I guess it’s best for people to form their own opinions in this case.
How about you? Let me know how you think the east stacks up against the west in the comments, I’d appreciate the feedback!
Tremblant/Okemo Recap, 5 Things You Should Know When You Go
With the recent arctic like temperatures that came through most of the United States, snow makers were on full blast on much of the East Coast’s ski resorts, but warmer temperatures coming in the past couple of days could put a halt on some operations.
Places like Okemo, Loon and Killington, (all in the On The Snow Northeast Top Three) show no signs of stoppage for the winter though regardless of temperatures. With thick bases and plenty of snow already there, they should have no worries about it carrying over into another cold front.
I get into my latest trip up North and interview a buddy of mine about his latest trip to Okemo. Later on in this post I’ll give you some advice in FIVE TIPS that Zach and I came up with when planning your trip up north.
My latest trip was to Mont Tremblant in Quebec. I was up in Tremblant in early January and snowboarded the seventh through the ninth. Conditions varied throughout the days but we got to experience pretty much every trail and got to do a lot of great snowboarding we cant do at home here in Maryland.
First, I’ll start off by saying that on the first day that was THE COLDEST I have ever been. Something like negative 20 degrees with wind chill? I’m talking I got out of the gondola on the peak and my beard froze.
Anyway – this day there was a little bit of ice, clear skies but the trails were running very fast. We took this first day to explore the mountain the most, look over the maps and try a bunch of different trails from greens all the way to blacks.
The second day brought about half a foot of fresh snow, for me at least, this was my first time going through deep fresh powder. We did a lot of glade runs. I fell, a lot, and getting up out of 2 feet of powder in the woods isn’t hard, don’t believe me, try for yourself. The precipitation brought in TONS of fog and made visibility poor, it was tempting to ride without goggles but for the sake of our eyeballs we chose not to.
Fog carried over into our last day on the mountain and we really hit glades hard on this day. We found a really cool run with tons of natural jumps and drops and probably hit it 5 times in a row.
Coming back down into Vermont, Okemo seemed to have great conditions during this time as well. Zach Labbe, a Maryland native who has been snowboarding for around 5 years just got back. Conditions were “beautiful, picture perfect,” he said. They too got fresh snow on their second day there and much of the group embraced the powder runs to the fullest.
Like much of the east coast though, Okemo suffered from some ice as expected for cold temperatures in this part of the country. Wind was blowing however and made for some blown powder to cover much of the ice.
5 Things For Your Next Trip
- LAYER –
This is probably the most important one we could think of. I can’t stress enough how essential it is to stay not only warm, but DRY as well. I try to stay away from cotton as much as I can and usually stick with moisture wicking materials. A good base layer and mid-layer usually helps. - BRING A BOOT DRYER
If you don’t have one – get one. Not many things are worse than wet boots. - BRING EXTRA CHAPSTICK
The air is a lot more dry in the winter and the cold temperatures and wind definitely don’t help you in that category. Keeping an extra thing of chapstick in your jacket pocket isn’t a bad idea. - NOSE UP IN POWDER
For myself and Zach, this was our first times going to a big mountain like Okemo or Tremblant and really our first time going through deep powder and glades. A good piece of advice is to shift your weight to your back foot and keep the nose of your board up when going through. This will allow you to float though and fall less, which is always good. - TRY NEW THINGS
New mountains bring new opportunities, there will probably be a lot of features you aren’t used to, give them a shot!
Matt Petraglia 
