Mountain Creek approves Adaptive Ski program
Vernon – Mountain Creek officials approved a local committee's plan to start an Adaptive Ski program at the resort on Sept. 4.
The committee, made up of local and area advocates including Vernon-based Mountain Creek Ski Patrol Director Susanne Ebling, Para Olympian and X-Game Medal winner Dan Monzo, experienced adaptive ski instructor David Rowan of Warwick, N.Y., PSIA Adaptive Ski Examiner and instructor John Swartwood, and Buffy and John Whiting, ski instructors and alpine ski race coaches, have been doing the research required to bring and Adaptive Ski Program to the Mountain Creek Resort.
The committee a presentation to Mountain Creek President Bill Benneyan and Tim Stone, the director of the Mountain Creek Ski and Snowboard Instruction Program with a presentation of their findings and a recommendation regarding the startup of an Adaptive Ski Program
The committee’s recommendation was that Mountain Creek develop an Adaptive Ski Program on a controlled developmental basis following a three-phase approach. Phase I of the plan would be to focus the program and its limited resources on the needs of a select number of the area's special athletes, including Nick Cerrato, the inspiration behind the committee’s efforts who is wheelchair bound but committed to experience the fun associated with skiing. During Phase Im the Adaptive Ski Program can create the organization, operating structure, instructional program and begin to develop a foundation for growth while providing service to the needs of local special athletes and building and refining the program at the same time.
Based on the experience gained during Phase I and the success of the program, the Adaptive Ski Program would move into Phase II by formalizing the structure of the organization, installing a Board of Directors and Program leadership, adopting policies and procedures and stabilizing the support operation. Committee members said they expect the success of the program will lead to added demand for adaptive ski instruction services and will cause advocates to make donations and financial contributions to help support the program’s operation and growth. During the Phase II developmental stage, services would continue to be provided to only a select number of special athletes to test the programs and procedures to ensure quality, safety and cost effectiveness.
Once the Adaptive Ski Program has stabilized its operational structure and program offerings in Phase II, and demonstrated its value and ability to provide service to special athletes it would move to Phase III by making the program available to the public. At this, time it is anticipated the program would have proven its value, would have established fundraising strategies to help ensure it is self-sustaining and to make a positive contribution to the Mountain Creek Ski Resort’s business.
With approval in hand, the next step is to put the plan in place for the 2015 ski season.
To achieve this goal, assignments were made at the presentation meeting that included the committee’s Dave Rowan working with Stone to identify the volunteer staff to provide the adaptive ski instruction, design the training program for the instructors and develop procedures for scheduling and providing the select special athletes with safe instruction. Other committee members, including Susanne Ebling and Dan Monzo plan to work with the Mountain Creek lift operations staff and Ski Patrol to ensure that service can be provided safely come the 2014-2015 ski season.
onzo, along with committee members John Swartwood, and John and Buffy Whiting plan to focus their attention on finding and acquiring the adaptive ski equipment necessary for the instruction program and exploring ways to raise money and get contributions and donations from program supporters to help purchase the equipment and pay other startup costs. Anyone interested in making a donation to help get the Adaptive Ski Program started are invited to contact Mountain Creek or any of the members of the Adaptive Ski Program Development Committee.