National Disabled Veterans' Winter Sports Clinic 2001

Snowmass, CO
March 24-31, 2001

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The 15th National Disabled Veterans' Disabled Sports Clinic is being held at Snowmass and Buttermilk, Colorado. Challenge Aspen, the disabled skiing program at Aspen, is the host program.

This year we have more than 380 participants taking part in downhill skiing, cross country skiing, rock climbing, scuba, dog sledding, and other winter outdoor activities.

From the downhill ski instructors' perspective, this web page documents our week and our activities. Saturday check-in, Sunday mountain orientation, Monday-Thursday lessons, Friday race day, Saturday head home. So.....here's the account.

Sunday -- Mountain Orientation

Chuck Stroh, Paul Brueningsen, and Bob Lemley hang out just waiting for the daily assignment. Took a tour of Snowmass mountain...learning the subtlties of runs and the lifts that service them. Snow was slushy and the temperatures reached 49°F. Slight snow flurry in the middle of the day and sun came back out. The afternoon sessions where composed of several clinicsranging from mono-ski progression, tethering techniques, blind skier guiding, and others. By lunchtime, Lisa, Russell, Karen, and Joel were ready to sit for a while before heading back out for the afternoon sessions.

Jeff and Theresa expertly guided us around their mountain and shared their experience and knowledge of how to effectively use the terrain.

The skiing and pushing through the slush made us all tired, but there was only room for a few on the ski-on bench. John, Jeff, and Jill to quick advantage. Hmmmm.....all of their names begin with a "J," any correlation? Nah!

Snowmass has several areas geared towards the family -- rolling hills, terrain parks, half pipes, and even reindeer. These reindeer are very docile and even come over to see you when you ski up to them.