Love to ski or snowboard? Help those with disabilities enjoy a day on the mountain and get discounted passes! Parks & Recreation's Therapeutic Recreation Services offers participants with physical and/or developmental disabilities winter recreational opportunities with their Adaptive Ski & Snowboard, Powderhounds, and Blue Waxers programs. Our volunteer instructors are integral in helping keep our programs accessible and affordable to our participants. Questions? Contact Alice Busch at 509.625.6245 or abusch@spokanecity.org
Available programs and volunteer instructor information below:
Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Program
The Adaptive Ski and Snowboard program for people with physical disabilities will include: Mono-ski, Bi-ski, Snowboard, 4 & 3 track, and Visually/Hearing Impaired skiing. Lesson times are Saturdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30- 2:30 p.m.
During the regular lesson Saturday morning sessions, volunteers will meet at 8:30 am to receive a lift ticket and need to be at the building no later than 9:00 a.m. Lessons are 9:30-11:30 a.m. Lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. If volunteering for the Saturday afternoon session, volunteers will meet at 11:30 am for pre-lesson meeting and teach lessons 12:30- 2:30 pm then put away equipment, do paperwork, etc. until 3 pm.
Powderhounds Program
The Powderhound program teaches people ages 6 + with developmental disabilities to ski or snowboard. Meeting location is the Yurt at Lodge #1. Season dates are Saturday, January 21 - March 4. The 3rd Annual Powderhounds Cup will be held Saturday March 11. No Powderhounds at Mt. Spokane on February 4. The program will be divided into a morning and afternoon sessions.
Saturday morning session volunteers will meet at 8:45 am to receive a lift ticket and need to be at the building no later than 9:00. Volunteers will need to be ready to teach lessons from 9:30 am-12 pm, then do paperwork, put away equipment etc. until 12:30 pm. If volunteering for the Saturday afternoon session, volunteers will meet at 12:15 pm for pre-lesson meeting, and teach lessons from 1- 3:30 pm, then put away equipment, do paperwork, etc. until 4 pm.
Nordic Blue Waxers Program
The Nordic Blue Waxers program is for students ages 12+ with developmental disabilities. Many of our skiers enjoy competing and will do so at our local annual Langlauf Nordic Community. This program operates Saturdays at Mt. Spokane Selkirk Lodge, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., January 14– March 4 with no ski on Feb 4.
Volunteers will be needed to participate in the community Nordic race Langlauf on Sunday February 5, 2023.
