End of Season

Last week was the official last day of the season at Park City Mountain Resort.  Everybody gets a little dressed up for the occasion and it can be a bit crazy on the mountain.  The theme for the National Ability Center was Tight and Bright.  I found a one piece snow suit.  I was plenty bright and it was a fun day on the mountain.

I had a total of 96 days on the snow this season.  I skied 5 different resorts and I can't wait to keep getting better.  In 96 days, my skills with new equipment and repetition of skiing helped so much.  It also helped that I lived 3 minutes from the resort and there was always someone better than me to critique my skills and help me get better.  It was an amazing season with both my mom and brother able to come out and ski as well as a college buddy from out east.  Good times for sure.

Mom Week

My mom was able to come out during her spring break last week.  We had a great time together and it was great showing her around Park City.  She was able to be out here for six days and she was able to ski five of those days.

Last Sunday we were expecting snow so we went out pretty early and enjoyed some fresh powder on the mountain.  It was a great day.  Monday turned out to be even better with more fresh snow.  It was pretty windy but we had a great first two days on the snow.  Tuesday was a day I had to do some stuff in the office so she checked out some of the cool stuff to do in Park City.  She spent most of the day downtown.  That evening I was able to show her a cool restaurant downtown.

Wednesday she was able to ski with me as I taught some lessons.  Here is one of my favorite students along with Laura.  We both got to work with this student this session.  It was pretty cool showing my mom what we do during lessons and how we work with different people.

 

I was able to take Thursday off and we went skiing once again!  The morning was a bit icy and she was able to witness a hefty fall.  She even got it on camera.  It is definitely not a highlight but you can watch me take a good spill.  My shoulder was hating me for the next few days for sure.

Friday was even better.  She got to ski in the morning and then she went back to get her stuff ready to head home that evening.  It was an awesome week.  She spoiled me by cooking some good food and just hanging out.  Thanks mom for coming out and spending the week with me.  I had a blast and just for the record I ordered all the awesome weather we both enjoyed!  It was an amazing week!

This was in the Park Record last week

Students at the Oakley School witness a different way to ski

Douglas Greenwood, of the Record Staff

Posted: 03/29/2011 04:11:08 PM MDT

·«

·1

·»

"I developed this course that is all about fun and skiing," said Oakley School Experiential Teacher Bethany Elson. Each time the students head up to the slopes, they ski with someone in the community who has been highly impacted by skiing, she said. 

About 10 of Elson's students spent Saturday, March 19, on the slopes at Canyons with Ben Hulin of the National Ability Center (NAC) and Andy Campbell, the winner of the Canyons Ultimate Mountain Challenge. Both men ride sit-skis, which consist of a single ski attached to a chair in which they sit because of accidents that left their legs paralyzed.

Hulin, who rides in a sit-ski as a result of a 2006 motorcycle accident, teaches ski lessons in conjunction with the National Ability Center. He is also in charge of community outreach at the NAC. 

Campbell found himself in a wheelchair after a 60-foot fall when a rock-climbing anchor broke in 2004. Both men began sit-skiing shortly after their accidents. They met this season and have skied together many times, according to Campbell.  "For me being in a wheelchair the mountains just take on a whole new level of significance," Campbell said.

Elson's students took to Hulin and Campbell quickly as they both offered to answer any questions regarding their injuries, how they were introduced to the sport or how their lives have been impacted, Hulin said.  "Since I work at the ability center, I could shed some light on people volunteering their time, working with our program and how people of all different types of abilities take part in our program," Hulin said. He began working with the NAC in September through a one-year contract with Americorps, which he described as "the domestic Peace Corps." 

A number of students responded to the messages Hulin and Campbell shared with them about overcoming difficulties, according to Elson. One message is printed right on Campbell's chair: "Die Living," which Campbell said draws a lot of attention from those who see him.

"There is very little that can actually stop you and get in the way of what you hope to achieve," Campbell said.

Elson said her students gained an appreciation for the diverse ways people can rise above their limitations to find what they love to do. The college-preparatory boarding school is located in Oakley and offers a unique curriculum to a wide variety of high-school age students.