Getting ready to hit the slopes!

I took my daughter adaptive skiing for the first time a few years ago, and have been hooked ever since. Having my whole family on the mountain together gave me such joy, it was life-changing. Finding out how much my daughter enjoyed it solidified my determination to find adventures that our family can participate in together. Every year we look forward to new mountains to conquer together.

This year we explored Sun Peaks Resort, the second largest ski resort in Canada. I visited there a couple of years ago on a solo trip and was excited for my family to experience Sun Peaks as well. My daughter was able to spend a session on the mountain where we were introduced to some of the people that make Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks (ASSP ) successful for their participants. There were adaptive ski races happening during our visit and we were privileged to witness the enthusiasm of the event. Seeing the pride of the racers and program organizers told the story of how much this program means.

About Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks

In meeting with Pat McKimmon, President of Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks I learned more about the program. The majority of their program is comprised of locals that participate in their 8-week program, but adaptive lessons are available 7 days a week – mornings or afternoons. Like most adaptive ski programs, their organization is very dependent on volunteer instructors, so it is strongly advised to book your session(s) as soon as you make the decision to visit Sun Peaks. Every student has different needs, and it can be challenging to determine what will work best for your child. My daughter is non-ambulatory and cannot sit up independently – throw in her severe scoliosis and dislocated hip and you have some challenges to consider. An in-person assessment may be necessary in order for ASSP to determine what equipment will work best. After you submit the Student Registration and Waiver forms arrangements can begin to schedule lessons.

If you are visiting Sun Peaks Resort for a vacation and have never participated in an Adaptive Ski program, consider Sun Peaks’ Snow Limo service. The Snow Limo is something very unique to Sun Peaks and is a great way for someone with limited accessibility to ski with their family. ASSP can help guide you on the best solution for your family.

Nick’s “wanted” poster is all over town…

The program at ASSP is fairly new, but it’s strong and has evolved even since my last visit with incredible community support. I had the special opportunity to ski with Nick, a proud member of the Sun Peaks Antiques. Nick is skiing to raise money for ASSP – his “wanted” posters were up all over town. His goal is to ski 85 days for his 85^th birthday, people are pledging support starting at .25 a day, going up to over $1.00 a day. Passionate about the program, Nick said he purposely tries to ride the lift with a different person every run, spreading the news about ASSP and his mission. Community support like that from Nick has allowed ASSP to rent their own space in the village, purchase more equipment and serve more people. With that kind of support, the program is sure to thrive. That spirit is something that I really love about Sun Peaks, it’s first and foremost a community that’s passionate about making Sun Peaks a better place to live – and visit.

Spending the morning with some inspiring new  friends – To my right, Mayor Al Raines, who has successfully pursued an extraordinary vision of Sun Peaks since he arrived in 1996, and Nick, a man with a mission who’s skiing for ASSP.

• Find out more about Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks.
• Support Nick’s ASSP fundraiser
• If a member of your family has limited mobility, check out their Acessibility Guide.

Disclaimer: Parts of my experience with Sun Peaks Resort were comped for review purposes, experiences and opinions are my own.