What an amazing start to the season!
We're winding down our first full month of lessons, and the weather could not have been any better. The temperatures have been consistently cold, and that means consistent snowmaking. The Wintergreen snowmaking crew has exceeded already high expectations this year, and we've had a sprinkling of natural powder here and there as well. Instructors are saying these have been the best December and January conditions in years, and I certainly agree.
But unfortunately, these amazing conditions are coupled with fewer students for us. As you know, we've had to limit the number of daily students to just a fraction of our normal. Plus, some of our regular students have health conditions that mean they need to be extra cautious, and they are sitting out this season. We understand, and we miss you.
We've put in place every pandemic precaution recommended by health officials, and part of that means keeping The Hut free of crowds. Yes, we're all wearing masks and so are our students, but if you've been to our small abode on the mountain, it is really tough to stay out of each other's way. It's a big bummer not to have our Hut filled with students and the slopes filled with bi-skis and stand-up lessons, but we're happy to be able to offer any lessons this year.
A lot of times when we draw attention on the mountain, it's because of the cool purple coats we bought specifically to make sure we'd be seen on the slopes. But it is also because we put some hardware on the snow that not a lot of people have seen before, like the bi-ski below:
But we certainly want you to know, if you don't already, that in addition to teaching students with physical disabilities, we also work with students who may have challenges learning in the kinds of group lessons you typically see at ski resorts. We routinely work with students with autism and other learning disabilities, using special techniques to keep them focused and engaged. So, instead of a student being lost in a group, we put together a group of instructors to work with a single student. Sometimes Wintergreen's own (and excellent) instructors recognize that a student might not be cut out for the chaos of a typical group lesson and suggest to parents they bring the student to us. We love that, and we've helped turn kids from nervous and anxious into nearly independent skiers.
Every new student is a new challenge, a new opportunity to introduce the kind of fun that can last a lifetime, and a new chance to expand our WAS family!
And speaking of something new, on a recent Saturday the WAS instructors tried their hands at hopping on a viral video craze. If you follow TikTok or pop culture, you probably heard about Nathan Apodaca's viral video. His truck broke down, so he pulled out a skateboard, turned on some Fleetwood Mac, and made a video selfie of his zoom into work while sipping from a bottle of cranberry juice. His laid-back vibe that showed he wouldn't let a set-back get him down just took off online, with lots of people copying the rolling selfie, often in funny ways.
But when we're working directly with students or other volunteers, our masks stay on, so we had to improvise. I hope you like it!
One of the junior instructors featured in that video is Skyler Imbrogno. That's her below, piloting a bi-ski, and she is our ...
Instructor Spotlight!
"I decided to volunteer at WAS after growing up skiing at Wintergreen and seeing and hearing all the amazing things they did. As soon as I turned 14, I decided to volunteer to help the community by sharing my love of skiing and snowboarding with students."
"My favorite thing WAS does is Wounded Warrior Weekend. That weekend has been my favorite, not only because the students are so eager to be out there, but also because of the food and families. It's just altogether amazing."
What advice would Skyler offer to a potential junior instructor?
"Just do it. You don't realize how eye-opening and amazing it is to be a volunteer at WAS. It's truly an amazing program that's so rewarding and I am unable to explain the impact it's had on my life."
Skyler is for sure one of the folks I most like working with. She's got a great attitude, is always smiling, and is always ready to have fun. She'll tackle any challenge you give her, and she can be bribed with a plateful of hot chicken tenders for lunch. Thanks for all you do, Skyler!
Well, this edition of the Totally Awesome Newsletter is coming to a close. It looks like Wintergreen temps stay low for the next week, with a few chances of snow! Hope to see you on the slopes! -- Mike Mather, instructor and editor.
Credits:
Mike Mather