April 19, 2004 – Vancouver Island Skiing for the Disabled Society along with Mt. Washington are hosting a Nordic Development Clinic, April 23-25, 2004, for new athletes from B.C..

Kasper Wirz, Disabled National Team coach and 5 members of the National Ski Team will be offering adaptive techniques, demonstrations, individual coaching as well as off season training techniques.

So far, we have 14 coaches and 11 athletes taking part in the workshop. Eleven local coaches and athletes are registered. These workshops are for entry-level recreational skiers who would like to experience adaptive cross-country skiing with ideas and encouragement from highly trained individuals. Depending on the interest, some travel allowance and expenses may be covered.

This is open to entry level recreational skiers. More information and booking, contact Emily Holmes at 250-334-2398 or email ephoenix3@shaw.ca

In 1992, the Vancouver Island Skiing for the Disabled Society was officially established as a “non-profit society”. Over the past decade the Society has continued to lead the way in the development of adaptive skiing in Canada.  Since the mid 1940s, individuals, challenged by injury or developmental diseases, have been finding ways to “accent their abilities”. They have reaped great success in skiing, through the use of adaptive equipment and professional instruction.

Our Society established its roots in just such a way. A group of Comox Valley folks, keen to share their love for the outdoors, began to teach skiing to mentally and physically challenged people in the early 1960s. Led by two keen enthusiasts, Herb and Blanche Bradley, these folks brought the thrills and spills of the sport into the reach of more and more people.

During the past 30+ years they, along with a very dedicated core of volunteers, sought out and refined adaptive techniques based on the teaching methodologies of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance. These techniques, coupled with adaptive equipment designed to harness the existing physical and mental abilities of each student, provided the basis from which each person could learn to ski!

During that time, the efforts of these folks moved onto the slopes of the new Mount Washington Alpine Resort, located 30K from Courtenay, B.C. on Vancouver Island. Over the years, the management of the resort encouraged the growth of these efforts through the donation of a room in which to operate the program, subsidized lift access, unlimited access to the terrain, and the very generous assistance of all of its employees.

For more information, contact Jeff Whiting Tel: 306-374-9598  Fax: 306-374-0516 Email: whiting@sasktel.net