SUN PEAKS, British Columbia (BVM) — An organization in British Columbia is providing ski and snowboard opportunities to individuals with a wide range of different abilities. Fueled by a passion to get winter sports lovers soaring down the slopes, Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks (ASSP) strives to ‘make the mountain accessible to all.’

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort is an alpine ski resort and worldwide tourist destination located in Sun Peaks, British Columbia. It has 13 lifts, 137 runs and 40 km of cross country trails. In addition to skiing, the resort also operates a downhill mountain bike park, an 18-hole golf course, recreational tubing and a banked slalom course.

ASSP started in 2008 when a need was identified for inclusiveness among school groups arriving at Sun Peaks for ski lessons. Over the years, the role of the non-profit organization has evolved from serving primarily the needs of people with disabilities in the Kamloops and surrounding areas, to providing programming to local, regional, national and international participants.

Program Manager, Jenny Hawes, has worked for the organization for two years. Being a sports and recreation enthusiast with a desire to support her community, she says the job was a great fit from the start.

“New to the community in 2018, I saw a job posting for ASSP and thought it would be a great way to serve the community and have a positive impact on a program that is targeting people who are experiencing barriers to enjoying mountain life,” Hawes said. “It has been a rewarding experience to work with volunteers and families who are very appreciative of our program and the opportunities we provide for their children and other athletes.

“The purpose of ASSP is to provide athletic and recreational programs to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of persons with disabilities. Our current program includes providing ski and snowboard lessons to riders and training to volunteer instructors. Last year, we executed over 500 lessons in a season.

“Instructors are blown away by the professional training we provide, free of charge, thanks to sponsors like the Kamloops Sports Legacy Fund. We see the confidence and skills built up in our students that translate to life skills at school and with their families. Instructors feel good experiencing the impact and connections they make. It’s a win all around!”

ASSP uses specialized equipment to assist their clients, working hard to keep up with the latest technology in adaptable gear.

“We have recently been awarded grant money from BC Adaptive Snowsports to assist with the purchase of a new Tessier dualski, which is a new technology of sit ski,” Hawes said. “This equipment enables people living with spinal cord injuries to ski. We also use outriggers, which are poles with skis on the end, to assist with balance. We use headsets to assist us with communication, which is very helpful when skiing with people with visual impairments. There are very few people we cannot accommodate.”

Providing professional training and implementing a risk management program are mandatory for ensuring a safe riding experience for everyone. With the help of Canadian Adaptive Snowsports, ASSP provides weekend intensive certification programs to skiers and snowboarders so they can become certified instructors. Regular instructor training is available to keep everyone in tip-top condition.

“I believe the biggest danger to consider are the weather conditions and ensuring our instructors continually check in with our students to be sure they are not overheating or getting cold,” Hawes said. “Breaks are important as well as hydration. We also have good cold weather policies. The other factor is ensuring we are visible on the runs to other guests on the resort.  We have matching uniforms and use a second instructor as a ‘blocker’, who is continually assessing the situation for any risks and ensuring our students and instructors have space to concentrate on the lesson.”

ASSP was granted status as a not-for-profit society in 2010. It was later granted charitable status in 2013. The organization must meet the demands for volunteers and financial resources.

“Recently, it feels as though grant funding has been directed to more essential front-line services in the not-for-profit sector,” Hawes said. “This season, we need to get more creative with fundraising events while maintaining the provincial health guidelines. We are really hoping the borders open to our home owners who spend their winters skiing and volunteering with our program. They are big contributors to our success. We are seeing demand for other sports like adaptive mountain biking and water sports which are starting to grab our attention. The goal has always been to expand, so it’s just a matter of timing. It’s all very exciting.”