History

IBEX SKI CLUB –   A SHORT HISTORY

Ibex was founded in 1962 by a group of mostly young male engineers and young female teachers.  The club chose the NW suburbs to hold their meetings, and has remained in the area to the present day. The founders set up a constitution with the duties of the various officers, and rules for club operations. These rules have changed over the years to keep pace with the times. The club has two elected boards. The Executive board,(President, Trips, Activities, Membership, Treasurer and Secretary) which runs the day to day  operations. The Board of Directors administer the long term goals of the club and the fiscal duties of a 501c7 corporation.

One important item the club set up early was to establish its own Ski School with certified instructors to teach new beginner skiers how to ski, and more advanced skiers how to improve their techniques. Many Ibex skiers learned through the ski school which still exists today at no cost to members.

From the early sixties to the early eighties the club only had weekend (Friday night to Sunday night) trips to northern Wisconsin and Michigan. These were bus trips with two to three buses. Saturday morning was lesson time and most members either taught or took lessons. Groups were set up based on ability, and as members improved, they moved up to the next group. The club also had a free club Nastar race on Sunday. These were duel races so members could race against their friends for Nastar medals

By the mid-eighties the members wanted more challenges, and the club started western weeklong trips to places like Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Jackson Hole, Taos Telluride, Banff, Whisler and many others.which continue today.

In the early nineties European ski trips were offered to areas in France, Italy, Switzerland etc. along with our western trips. These were a combination ski/vacation trip with some members going for just vacation and not skiing. A few years later extension trips were offered after the ski trip to various locations throughout Europe to sightsee and visit historic places.

Today the club has expanded to adventure trips for hiking, biking and sightseeing for members who no longer ski, but still enjoy traveling.  Some members only join for adventure travel and/or social activities

Ibex has always been a year-round club, Some of the activities in Summer / Fall included camping, biking, volleyball, Ibex picnic, Ibex Holiday party, Ravinia, Bar and/or dining outings, CMSC picnic and many more. All this has been made possible due to members who volunteered their time to organize and run these activities.

As a final thought, Ibex is a social club. Many friendships have been made that have lasted for years including many marriages between club members. And for those who don’t know, an IBEX is a mountain goat, so as we get older it’s ok to call your friends in the club an OLD GOAT.  Enjoy!