South Carolina Snow Day(s)

*University of South Carolina students use a couch and a folding table as sleds in Columbia, SC on January 21, 2025. (All photos by Sean Rayford for Getty Images)*

At the top of University Hill, about 75 college students gathered for clutch and peak Gamecock performance.

As snow fell like magic, I could hear the words break through the chatter and laughter. “SOMEONE HAS A COUCH!”

*Savannah Wingard walks up the beach while using a boogie board as a sled on January 22, 2025 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.*

The crowd parted ways and two young men carried the next sled to the intersection at Greene and Barnwell Streets. Cheers erupted.

It doesn’t snow often in the capital of South Carolina — but when it does, you can bet University of South Carolina students will gather at the skateboarding bomb street. Most come to watch, some with beer in hand — but a few brave souls risk slamming into the parked cars.

*South Carolina Statehouse - Columbia, SC - 1.21.25*

On the right side, a pair of trashcans act as a collision bumper on the car that seems to be magnetically attracting most participants.

As a former University Hill resident, the pleasure in this Gamecock tradition is mostly about what folks bring to use as sleds.

This was the first year that I saw folding tables as the most popular mechanism — and the first time I saw a couch. In the last photo of this post, you’ll notice the folding table placed under the couch to distribute the friction points of the furniture legs.

The couch sled reached a third of the way down the hill before it tipped and the riders spilled out. Of course, the crowd went nuts. It was the only run I saw with the couch — because students gave up trying to get the couch back up to the top of Barnwell St.

I wonder if it’s still sitting on the sidewalk.