The natural world often offers itself as a playground, and with a little (or sometimes substantial) bit of money can be tailored for total entertainment. Students are taking advantage of this, as the University sponsors a variety of sports teams and clubs that practice or compete outdoors. The following are student clubs whose athleticism is not often considered in the narrow scope of the sports world.
WeSail
If the water is your natural habitat, then you might find WeSail, the University’s sailing team, to be to your liking. In the fall, the team met regularly to sail on the Connecticut River. WeSail has even recently acquired boats that are kept at the Pettipaug Yacht Club in Essex, Conn.
“They are very old and in terrible condition,” said Jacon Mayer ’10, who heads the team. “We have had several people capsize this season, but it’s rather anticlimactic since the river is so shallow.”
WeSail counts 12 in its ranks, including many novices this semester. Members did not form competing in regattas this fall but plan to participate in this winter’s race series at the Boston Harbor, where they will join together on larger boats.
WeSurf
“Whether you’ve surfed Banzai Pipeline or never even seen an ocean, a desire to have a blast is the only prerequisite!” reads WeSurf’s mission statement.
“It’s purely for fun, and not competitive,” said captain Eval Bar-David ’09.
WeSurf ventured out to Narragansett, R.I. a few times this semester, but the team’s time for catching waves is always limited in the fall as the temperature declines. Bar-David envisions a trip to Costa Rica in the future.
Wesleyan Equestrian Team
The Wesleyan Equestrian Team also incorporates the riding of an apparatus, albeit a live one. The team consists of a floating number of athletes who ride the 10 horses living at the Windcrest Farm in Hebron, Conn. once per week.
“It’s really nice to get off of campus for a while,” said team member Rosa McElheny ’11. “It’s a nice setting.”
The team competed six times this semester through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. University riders are part of the Zone 1, Region 1 division, along with nine other colleges in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Competitions—horse shows—consist of various classes that are categorized by their skill level, and participating riders earn points for their respective schools if they are designated as the qualifying team member from the school.
Nov. 10 was a day of victory for the team. At a horse show hosted by Trinity College, the Wesleyan Equestrian Team earned the most points of the schools in attendance, including Brown University, the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island. Co-captain Caitlin Winiarski ’10 was awarded the most points of any rider.
Wesleyan Ski Team
Come winter, when (or if) snow blankets the temperate zone, the Wesleyan Ski Team will hit the slopes to “shred the nar,” as they say in ski jargon. There are currently 10 women and 10 men on the team, and they anticipate weekly trips to Vermont to practice.
“We’d love to have lots and lots of people come out and ski with us,” said co-captain Oren Gersten ’08.
The team competes in the McBrine Division of the United States College Ski Association during the first five or six weeks of the spring semester. Competitors include Brandeis University, Marist College, the University of New England, and Yale University. While the University’s team may not have the greatest track record, it is reputed to be the most fashionable in the traditional costumed run at the end of the season.
Cardinal Vélo
Brendan McEntee ’10 and Rishabh Phukan ’10 resurrected Cardinal Vélo (which means ’bike’ in French) at the beginning of the semester. While the team has existed in the past, the only remnant that remained at the beginning of this academic year was the group’s e-mail list.
“I came in this year with the idea of restarting the team and was enthralled to find others were likewise interested,”
McEntee said.
There are currently 16 members on Cardinal Vélo. Aidan Charles of Coaching and Nutritional Services, a local business on Main St., volunteers as the team’s coach, organizing members and preparing work-out schedules.
Cardinal Vélo hits the road twice per week on Saturday and Sunday mornings. McEntee hosts a breakfast for the team before Sunday excursions, which range from 12 to 24 miles.
The team’s goal is to compete in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference this spring. In the meantime, members’ efforts will be concentrated on training and locating a source of sponsorship to equip them with uniforms and licenses for upcoming races.
Despite the team’s current lack of adequate resources, McEntee insists that members’ spirits remain high.
“The most important thing is riding together,” McEntee said.
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