By Ella Torres, April 21, 2026
Among the five board members of Cal Poly Pomona’s Ridge Runners Ski and Snowboard club, they have accumulated two concussions, one broken wrist, one fractured pelvis, one black eye, a set of broken skis and two broken snowboards. Lucas Luminato, an engineering student and vice president of Ridge Runners, described the injuries as “absolutely worth it.”
The ski and snowboard club of CPP, founded in 1966, provides students with more than just an excuse to hit the slopes; it provides community.
“The club has brought me so much life and so many new friends. I run into so many people from the club here on campus, and it’s so fun to see everybody,” Club President Abbra Daniell said.
CPP alumnus Tanner Dugas leads a steep jump at Bear Mountain with current students Lucas Luminato and Sam Ebbert trailing behind him. | Courtesy of CPP Ridge Runners
Daniell’s connection to Ridge Runners spans decades beyond her time at CPP, dating back to the ‘80s when her father was a member of the organization.
During the snow season, the club hosts nine trips a semester. Eight trips to the nearby Baldy and Bear mountains and one large trip out of state, typically to Colorado. The large trip spans four to five days and includes plenty of skiing and snowboarding, family-style dinner, dance parties, town excursions, the occasional game of rage cage and, according to the board members, typically very little sleep.
For CPP twins, Sofia and Lucas Luminato, the trips are what drew them to join the club, but a sense of belonging is what kept them coming back.
The twins reminisced on their favourite trips with the club, recalling their last birthday which they spent road tripping to the Tahoe mountains.
“As a sister, just watching my brother find a group of friends where he can belong was the coolest,” Sofia Luminato said.
“Ridge Runners definitely changed me to be more outgoing. I was really shy before entering the club and like I said before, most of my friends ended up coming from the club,” Lucas Luminato said.
The board continues to curate a sense of community for all members even during the off-season. Events like sand-dune snowboarding, beach days and brewery trips keep the fun alive even when the snow melts.
Ridge Runner’s is open to all skill levels, ranging from bunny slope boarders to black diamond enthusiasts. There is a member of the club at each skill level, guaranteeing you always have a buddy ride with you.
“We’ll help you get rentals, help you get to the mountain, and we even give you a lesson,” Luminato said.
As the club looks ahead to upcoming trips and new beginnings, one goal remains constant; bringing students together, on and off the slopes. Students can join Ridge Runners through their Instagram @cpp_ridgerunners.
Feature image photo courtesy of CPP Ridge Runners
