Skiing and Snowboarding for all with Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports

skiing and snowboarding sit-skiing vancouver adaptive snow sports

Thanks to the Vancouver Paralympic Games in 2010, many of us are now familiar with sit-skiing, a skiing adaptation for those who aren’t able to stand. But did you know that a local non-profit society has been teaching skiing and snowboarding, as well as sit-skiing and other adaptive snow sports, on local mountains for some 40 years? Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports (VASS) operates on Grouse, Cypress and Seymour, and teaches skiing and snowboarding to people of all ages and disabilities. We recently had a chance to chat with Anne Bethune, VASS’s President, as well as an Examiner with the Canadian Association of Disabled Skiers, and an International Paralympic Committee Classifier.

Skiing and Snowboarding for Everyone

Anne says, “We teach pretty well any disability. We have both physical and cognitive disabilities. That would include people who had a visual impairment, for example, as a physical disability. Somebody who had limited mobility in their legs, and couldn’t walk, would be in a sit-ski. We use adaptive equipment to compensate for various disabilities. And a cognitive disability, for example, might be a kid with autism, or somebody with a brain injury.” While able-bodied skiing and snowboarding schools may take kids as young as two and a half to three, VASS tends to take kids who are a little older, based on their abilities. Their youngest student so far has been five years old.

While VASS operates on all three local mountains, about 80% happens at Grouse. They have a sit-ski only program at Seymour, and they offer an advanced program on Cypress mountain. Their most advanced students participate in their racing program, for people with any disability. Anne says that some of their athletes are quite competitive. “We have a group of about 10, which is our race team, called The Blue Streaks.”

Affordability and Benefits

We all know that skiing and snowboarding can be expensive, as far as sports go. If you add in the cost of specialized adaptive equipment, it’s even higher. However, VASS is able to offer very inexpensive programs to its students thanks to the generosity of the local mountains. Anne explains, “They donate all the lift tickets, and we’re volunteer-driven. Our six week programs, for example, are only $150.00. That’s for all six weeks and that gives people lessons, lift tickets, instruction and rentals. We don’t turn away anybody based on affordability and finances.” When it comes to rentals, the mountains provide skis, boots and poles, and VASS has all the adaptive equipment.

We asked Anne about the impact VASS has on its students. She cites therapeutic benefits – physical, cognitive, social and more. She goes on to say, “When you are living life, for example, in a wheelchair, and you get out on the mountain, and you get in a sit-ski, all of the sudden gravity is your friend and not your enemy. Just the thrill of speeding down the mountain in a sit-ski is so exhilarating.” Seeing the changes is what keeps her coming back. “What really ignites me, honestly, is the overflow and the impact that happens in life off the hill. I see people’s increasing confidence, their depression is lifted. I see people developing skills and maybe going for that job interview or becoming the cool kid in school. It’s really how we overflow, from what happens on the hill to what’s going on their real life, that’s where the magic happens.”

Support VASS, or Sign Up

Like all non-profit societies, VASS depends on volunteers and donors to offer their skiing and snowboarding programs. Their biggest challenge is having enough instructors to offer their programs. Anne says, “If you’re reading this article, and you’re an intermediate or advanced skier and have six or eight nights or weekend days available, come out and play with us on the mountain. It’s the most rewarding volunteer experience you’ll ever have, for sure. We’ll train you up, it’s a lot of fun, you’ll learn skills, and you’ll even get a certification out of it.”

If you’d like to support VASS and you’re not able to volunteer, there are a couple of other great ways to do it. You can always donate money, of course. Or you can attend their upcoming fundraiser event, and have fun while supporting a great local cause. They’re hosting the Vancouver premiere of Kurt Miller’s new movie The Movement. It has a disability slant, but it’s also just a great film. That happens on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at the North Shore Credit Union Centre for Performing Arts.

If you or your children would like to take lessons with VASS, registration for their 2012/2013 season is now open. It’s first come, first served, so don’t put it off. Stop by their website to learn more.