American Airlines Ski & Snowboard Team

You’ve probably noticed our posters at work. We can assume you either like skis and snowboards, or you’re fascinated by the guy with the Chicken on his helmet. We like skis and snowboards too, so feel free to join us. If you want you can meet the Chicken Man personally.

Why should I ski with a club?

Because Ski Resorts take care of clubs and large groups. We get discount lift tickets, discounted housing, all kinds of stuff. If you're going to the slopes, go with us for the good deals. The bigger our group the better the deals.

The team belongs to NAASF, the North American Airline Ski Federation, which is itself a member of IASF, the International Airline Ski Federation. IASF holds one meet a year. NAASF holds meets monthly from January to April. In early December the AA and AE Teams hold a meet of their own.

A meet is a ski week. The meets are scheduled during the week. Because of this we get reduced rate lift tickets and lodging. (Think Airline Discount!) Normally scheduled for check-in on a Sunday, ski Monday through Thursday, and leave on Friday. Evenings, after skiing, there is often a welcome party on Monday, on Tuesday the AA Team dines out together, Wednesday is a theme party, and Thursday is Awards Night. The Snowboarders race on Tuesday mornings, Skiers race on Wednesday and Thursday. Often the host resort will provide a BBQ lunch one day. If you want to ski more or less, you can do that too. Everyone does it differently, it’s up to you. We're airline people, it's flexible.

It helps a lot if you want to learn, but there is no requirement to be able to ski or ride. The AA meet in December will have instruction available for all levels from beginner to expert and most of the other meets have discounted lessons available as well.

If you have prior racing experience and/or know you want to race; this is your big opportunity. Skip over the next few paragraphs.

Then you’re like most of the people who come out with the team. Seriously, this is the biggest question we get. The team’s goal is to spend some fun days on a mountain skiing/riding and getting discounts. Aside from new members with prior racing experience, most recreational skiers don’t think they want to race. So be assured that plenty of members just show up for a week of skiing/riding that doesn’t include racing. The racing is only a small part of it, an optional part. For more info on the racing see the end of the FAQ.

Yes, to join the team you must be an employee, retiree, or furloughee of AMR. Team members are free to bring family members and guests. American Eagle has a team too, and they and their families and guests are also welcome. Bring your buddies from other airlines.

Everyone is welcome! Everyone! The team and social events are for everyone. It’s all about the skiing and snowboarding. We are a cross section of American Airlines. We have singles, married, all kinds. Bring whoever you want. Children are welcome, but the Monday to Thursday schedule tends to conflict with school, so we don’t see as many. 

You know, I heard that too. Look around your workplace; that’s who comes to the meets. However if you look around and see a crowd of buff twenty-year-olds, email the webmasters immediately. We want to know where you work. Or hang out with the Sky West team at NAASF meets.

Just show up. You joined when you were hired.

Well the minimum you should do is call or email one of the Team Officers or the Room Mom before you show up to let them know you’re coming.

OK, check out the Meets page on this web site. Visit the NAASF web site too. They will have the discount info on the resort and lodging. Then you should make a room reservation. Check out the Hot Sheet and MSN Group to see what hotel AA’ers are booking in. Lately many members have been going together and getting rooms in multi-room condos. The Room Mom can help with that, but it helps to have been to a meet to meet prospective roomies. Adventurous optimists just show up at Monday’s Aprés Ski and ask around to see who has a fold out couch that’s open.

Well duh, of course there is. Right Here. At some point you have to promise not to sue anyone and pay a couple of bucks so we can stay in NAASF. Just show up at a meet and ski/ride, we’ll do the paperwork later. OK?

Well you work for the airline, so travel is cheap. Dues for the employee for the year are a one-time $30. Tuesday night’s dinner is $25 per person, less if you plan ahead. Some resorts provide meals every night, some none. Last year’s discounted lift tickets were about $40 a day. NAASF, IASF, or the AA Team negotiate room rates for each ski week. Rooms run from $85 a night to more than $250 for a condo. You can sleep on a fold out as the third in a regular hotel room or book an entire condo for your family. It can be shared cheap, or luxury private. Your choice. It’s cheaper than going by yourself, and you’re not alone. There are discounts on ski/board rentals, instruction, and most other resort services. NAASF charges $60 per person for a weeks worth of parties, often with free drinks.

Call, email, ask a co-worker. Grab your skis or board and join us on the hill, worry about the details later.

OK, here’s the funny thing. Lots of folks don’t think they want to do it. It’s too hard, too steep, too dangerous, too unknown. They’ve seen race courses set up for other people. But at a meet a course is set up for them. So they find themselves watching someone else on the team do it. They look down the course and it’s not as steep as the slope they were just on. They think, Holy Cow, these guys I’m watching seem to be having fun. They miss a gate and no one heckled. So they figure, well I could try it, once, but I’ll go really slowly. So they do. And find out the race course is like a golf course, you don’t have to be Billy Kidd or Tiger Woods to enjoy it. It’s just you, a slope, some gates and a clock. You’re only competing with yourself. So there’s a race course at each meet if you want to try it. Members of all skill levels enjoy trying to beat the clock, make some great turns, or just make it down without falling. You set your goals, not the team. We even have a Newcomers Race. Racing is available on some days, but most of the week is spent skiing/riding with friends and enjoying the Airline Discount.

If you’re still reading about the racing, that’s OK. We know some people don’t join the team because of concerns about racing and we want to change that. It’s about the snow, the people, the fun, and don’t forget THE DISCOUNTS. The last paragraph wasn’t trying sell you on becoming a racer, it was trying to explain why so many of the team members who didn’t join to race end up on the race course.

Tradition. It should be called Warm-Up Camp. The AA and AE Teams book a ski week together and line up the most genuine, certified and experienced instructors for skill groups. Some groups go out into the trees to get better at that, others go to the beginner hill to work on parallel turns. Unless you live in a ski town, it’s the first day on the snow for the year, and having an instructor gives everyone a great foundation and goals for the rest of the season. Even the beginners may take a run down the race course, just to try their turns around the poles. The best part of the groups is that if you’re new to the team, then later, when the coats and boots are off, you’ll know some folks. In January, you’ll still know some folks, and oddly enough, they’ll be about your skill level, so you can head out to the slopes...

Do Not Come To A Meet If You...only pay full price at hotels...like paying full price for rental cars..like $85 dollar lift tickets...like to ski alone..have nothing in common with airline employees...prefer to go to the library after a long day on the slopes. But don’t not come because you’re worried about the racing, OK?

That, friend, is what the “A team” race is for. Don’t forget your speed suit and pads.