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Local ski club gets ready for the snow, sleet and the cold
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
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![[Image]](/content_images/081408_par-01.jpg) |
| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| Pinellas Park District Fire Chief Louis Sclafani is among the members of the Clearwater-St. Petersburg Ski & Sports Club. |
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PINELLAS PARK – The Clearwater-St. Petersburg Ski & Sports Club is getting ready for another year of snow and cold.
Better known as the Snow Sharks, local Floridians have lined up trips to Colorado, Utah, British Columbia and even Italy.
“We are the second largest ski club in the nation,” said Pinellas Park’s District Fire Chief Louis Sclafani. “We are only behind Texas in size.”
Sclafani said many new members and especially children have never experienced snow.
“It’s fun to watch them,” he said. “Adults act like little children the first time they see snow,” he said.
The club offers trips for married people, singles and families. With approximately 250 members, the club also offers monthly social events that include scalloping and kayaking trips.
People in Florida do not realize that getting a sunburn in the snow is very possible.
“The red face one gets during winter weather is not from the cold,” Sclafani said. “It’s from the sun because you are much closer to it on a mountain top.”
Getting used to higher elevations can be problematic, too. There is less oxygen in the mountains and some people have trouble breathing. People also can suffer from so-called altitude sickness that produces virus-like symptoms.
Persons interested in joining can call 367-1111.
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
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