Ski for Life, a long-standing youth partnership program led by Oregon Adaptive Sports, begins this week, welcoming students from more than ten Central Oregon schools to the mountain for adaptive skiing and snowboarding lessons. Ski for Life is designed for youth with disabilities supported through school-based Life Skills Programs.
Through this partnership, students travel to the mountain once a week for four consecutive weeks to participate in adaptive lessons at Mt. Bachelor and Hoodoo Ski Area. Each student is paired one-on-one with a trained volunteer coach, creating consistency, trust, and individualized support throughout the program.
In preparation for the program’s start, new and returning volunteers completed hands-on training focused on beginner and intermediate alpine and snowboard instruction. Training emphasized skill development strategies, adaptive teaching techniques, and a deeper understanding of the Oregon Adaptive Sports community and the students the organization serves.
“The OAS Ski For Life program is one of our most impactful yet least publicized programs. It empowers local youth with disabilities to gain confidence, independence, resilience, endurance, and community through snowsports programs adapted to meet their needs. Over more than a decade, OAS has served thousands of Central Oregonian youth through this program, many of whom have graduated as expert skiers and even gone on to work in the ski or outdoor industry. These athletes pay little to nothing to participate, and we rely entirely on the support of donors from the community and our ski area partners to make this program possible.” – Pat Addabbo, Executive Director
Ski for Life continues to strengthen connections between schools, volunteers, and outdoor recreation partners across Central Oregon. The program is built through strong partnerships that support weekly participation, individualized instruction, and a positive learning environment for youth with disabilities.
“After more than 14 years of working alongside Oregon Adaptive Sports’ Ski for Life program, I can say with confidence that its impact is truly life-changing. I’ve watched students take their first steps on skis through this program and then continue skiing well into adulthood. Seeing them work through the fear of trying something new, learn a new skill, and use it as a way to stay healthy has been incredible. Maintaining relationships with these students over time has shown me just how powerful this experience is – not just in the moment, but across a lifetime. Watching students grow into confident, independent adults who carry these skills into our local community is deeply meaningful and a true testament to what Oregon Adaptive Sports’ Ski for Life makes possible.” -Robert Tadjiki, Special Education Teacher
Ski for Life lessons begin this week, with students returning to the mountain each week over the program cycle. Four consecutive cycles are offered in January, February, March and April. For more information about Ski for Life or Oregon Adaptive Sports youth programs, visit https://oregonadaptivesports.org/sports/
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.
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