Lees-McRae Bringing Back Ski and Snowboard Team

After several years without a team, Lees-McRae College is thrilled to announce the return of competition skiing and snowboarding this year. Students will now have the chance to compete against other schools in addition to enrolling in the skiing course or spending nights and weekends on the slopes for recreation. The team will be coached by Aaron Maas, who spent the last six years as a ski/snowboard instructor at the Sugar Mountain Resort in Sugar Mountain. N.C.

“Our patience has paid off with the hiring of Aaron as our new snowboard and ski coach. Bringing the program back to the college was natural, but finding the right person with the character and traits was a must for our future,” praised Vice President of Athletics and Club Sports Craig McPhail. “With our natural laboratories nearby, a rich tradition of the sport, and the chance to become one of the preeminent snowboard and skiing programs in the Southeast, we are excited to welcome Aaron to Lees-McRae.”

Maas’s responsibilities included customizing lesson plans for skiers and boarders while organizing and facilitating special events on Sugar Mountain. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Iowa.

Situated just minutes from both Beech and Sugar Mountain, Lees-McRae College is ideally located for winter sports. Both skiing and snowboarding are popular activities in the high country and many students choose Lees-McRae for a climate that promotes these sports and quick access to the mountains. As the only competition program of its kind in the south, this new team will provide a unique opportunity for local and regional students.