Adaptive Snowsports Society looks for volunteer instructors

VISAS provides fun for both instructors and their students with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities

The Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS) at Mount Washington Alpine Resort is looking for new volunteer instructors.

“If you are a better than average downhill or cross country skier or strong intermediate snowboarder, consider yourself ‘a people person’ and can remember your own first thrill of a controlled slide down the mountain,” according to the press release, then read on.

For over 20 years VISAS has provided tons of fun for both instructors and their students with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.

Using a variety of adaptive equipment and constantly improving techniques, VISAS instructors quickly have students gaining confidence and satisfaction on runs and trails.

The downhill program requires a commitment to a mandatory two-weekend training session at the beginning of the ski season, over two consecutive weekends, for four days of concentrated training.

The Society also requires a minimum of 15 volunteer days of instruction from each Instructor during the season, which equals approximately one day a week.

Successful candidates will receive their Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS) Level 1 Certification on completion of the four days of training. Instructors must also be 19 or above to qualify.

“We have a social and cohesive group of Instructors,” says the release, “and Mount Washington is very supportive of our programs with many benefits accorded our Instructors.

We may be the group for you, come to the meeting and see where you can make a difference accenting the abilities of our students.”

Check out on the web at www.visasweb.ca or for more information and visit their VISAS Facebook page and on Flickr, or contact Brian Culley at 250-334-2994, or by email at bcculley@shaw.ca or Bob Hodgson at 250-339-6833 or by email at curlew@shaw.ca

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