Tampa Bay Snow Skiers and Boarders

About Us

Club Highlights

We are one of the largest ski clubs in America. We take 15 to 18 trips with over 600 total travelers per season. As a not-for-profit social club, we have monthly gatherings open to the public all year round so we can keep the fun going locally. We are very welcoming to new travelers and first-time skiers and boarders. We can never have enough unique, fun, and interesting travelers. Our club has been around for over 50 years, but we are constantly striving to give our travelers a better experience than the year before.

We try to make ski travel easy, let us do all the planning. Our trip leaders go through extensive training each year. They are experienced, organized, and friendly. Most importantly they are committed to everyone having a great trip. Every trip leader will plan social activities before and during the trip. You will always find someone in the group to ski/board with.

Come be part of our special club (TBSSB) and join us on one of our trips. You won’t find a more dedicated group that wants to make your shared experience on the mountains a memorable one. Sign up for one of our trips or come to our monthly gatherings to see what you’re missing!!

TOP 10 REASONS to ski with TBSSB:

• Ski Travel made easy, just Pay & Play
• Experienced, Organized, & Friendly Trip Leaders
• Variety of Destinations at Great Prices
• Great Lift Ticket & Rental Prices
• Interesting & Fun Travelers
• Social Activities before, during, & after Trips
• Always someone to Ski or Board with
• Club Membership has it’s privileges
• Guaranteed FUN!!
• Over 50 years Exceeding Travelers Expectations

Tampa Bay Snow Skiers and Boarders Mission Statement

Mission Statement:

The Tampa Bay Snow Skiers & Boarders are committed to providing its members with the following:

• Quality trips to first-class destinations and 3-stars or above accommodations with rare exceptions
• A variety of trips each year; both in length, price, and location so our travelers have many options from which to choose
• Good value through use of aggressive purchasing strategies

Goals:

• Sell 95% of our scheduled trip spaces
• Maintain our members and replace the members we lose with new members
• Provide quality trips for our members, so that our members come back year after year and ultimately bring their family and friends, thereby increasing our Club membership
• For all trips, score over 85% satisfaction rate on end-of-trip traveler surveys

Strategies:

• Leadership commitment to improve Trip Leader preparation with technology and annual training
• Develop and motivate outstanding trip leaders
• Well-trained leaders and assistants who are educated using comprehensive training methods and are available to respond quickly to travelers’ questions and/or comments
• Infusion of technology which will help sell trips through our Club’s Web site
• An easy, friendly way for our travelers to sign up for trips
• Develop an easier to use software program to help organize and run trips
• Provide good value through use of aggressive purchasing strategies
• Network with other ski clubs around the country to gather new ideas and incorporate a ‘Best Practices’ approach to leading trips
• Provide a fun, social atmosphere at all Club social events and trips
• Offer reduced rates for lift tickets and optional activities by utilizing the power of group rates wherever possible
• An ongoing pledge by the Board of Directors to be one of the best ski clubs in the state, as well as the country

A 50+ Year History

In 1970, a small group of ski enthusiasts got together and mused over the possibility of a local ski club. The first meeting was held in the garage/game room of Bob and Mary Sprinkles with about 25 people attending. At the second meeting, each person contributed $1 so that Don Pleasants could write a club charter. During the first three months, membership grew to 300! This was a sign that Tampa was going to have an active snow ski club. Our first ski trip was to Vail with 20 skiers in December 1970.

The small number of skiers required the Club's affiliation with the Southeastern Ski Association in order to have enough people to charter a trip.  Tucker Marston was the 1st president during the Club's first ski season. Slowly but surely, new ski destinations were added to the already growing trip list...Steamboat Springs, Winter Park, and Lake Tahoe, to name a few. The Club became known as the Suncoast Alpine Club, Inc. (in 1976 a name change added “Ski” to the name – officially changed in 1988) -- complete with trip catalogs, officers, and a board of directors, plus a monthly newsletter!

By the 1984-85 ski season, 11 trips were available and the Club had several hundred members. In 1986, the Club began doing business (DBA) as the Tampa Bay Snow Skiers. As the years passed, the number of trips grew, and the Club needed to evolve to reflect the ever- changing world of winter sports.   In 2006, we added "Boarders" to our name, recognizing the growth of this aspect of winter snow sports, becoming the Tampa Bay Snow Skiers and Boarders (TBSSB).

We have week-long trips leaving almost every weekend from December through April, New Year's holiday trip, and we round out the offerings with "long weekend" trips that give us the variety that is bound to satisfy every need.

The best kept secret is in Tampa Bay...the Tampa Bay Snow Skiers and Boarders...which sends 600+ skiers to the slopes annually. And to think – it all started those many years ago in a couple's garage with 25 smart skiers.

Significant Dates

Club's Inception - Florida - Not for Profit, Incorporated July 27th, 1970 as the Suncoast Alpine Club, Inc.

Name Change - March 21, 1988 - Suncoast Alpine Ski Club, Inc.

Presently DBA (doing business as) Tampa Bay Snow Skiers and Boarders