Unfair to high school players

I was having a conversation with the parent of a basketball player last week when she told me something I thought was a little unjust.

First, let me start off by saying that I no longer have a child in Whitefish High School, so this subject has nothing to do with him. I also am not a skier, as I didn't grow up in this community; however, I have lived and worked in the Whitefish community for 27 years. My son graduated from Whitefish High School and is, in fact, an avid snowboarder.

Apparently when a child is on the high school basketball team, they are not allowed to ski or snowboard. This parent was quite upset about this, as that is their family activity on Saturdays, and now one of their five children is unable to go with them.

What is he supposed to do — sit home alone? The parent does not want to wreak havoc over the issue as she is concerned that her son would then be ostracized and spend more time sitting on the bench then playing basketball, so she just remains quiet.

We live in a town where skiing is huge. Why shouldn't a kid be able to do both? They can get hurt just as easily playing basketball as they can skiing.

I find this very unjust and feel the school should reconsider.

Christine Brown

Columbia Falls

Editor's note: According to Whitefish High School boys basketball coach Julio Delgado, basketball players are encouraged not to ski or snowboard, but there is no rule or policy in place prohibiting them.