Press (06/07)

Whistler-Blackcomb Awarded Sponsor of the Year by Disabled Skier's Assoc. of BC
June 15, 2007
For Immediate Release

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, (WASP) is pleased to announce that Whistler-Blackcomb was awarded Sponsor of the Year by the Disabled Skiers Association of BC (DSABC). The award was presented at the AGM of DSABC on May 26th, 2007. This award reflects the support and partnership that Whistler-Blackcomb has for WASP's Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program over the last few years. This award was one of four awards, two nationally and two provincially that WASP and its partners, volunteers and staff have been awarded this season. WASP is delighted with the official recognition of the enormous contribution that Whistler-Blackcomb continues to make towards the overall success of its Programs.
Whistler-Blackcomb has been a strong supporter and partner of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program since its inception. Thanks to the program and operational support of Whistler-Blackcomb, the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program would not be able to deliver a Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program of such high quality and to provide exceptional service to as many ski and snowboarding participants each season.

As a not for profit sports organization and registered charity, the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program relies on the generosity of our partners, sponsors, contributors, volunteers and the tireless efforts of our staff. It means a great deal to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, that their nomination of one of their partners, Whistler-Blackcomb, is recognized provincially. Without the support of organizations such as Whistler-Blackcomb, Scotiabank, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Rotary, the Community Foundation of Whistler and the Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation, WASP would not be able to achieve such great successes.

Whistler-Blackcomb has been supporting the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program since before it was even known as WASP. The Disabled Skiers of British Columbia, (DSABC) had run an adaptive ski program on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains for many years. As the resort of Whistler grew, so did the demand for opportunities for people with disabilities to access skiing and snowboarding opportunities in Whistler. In answer to this demand Alpine Access Ability, (AAA) was formed in 1996 and a more structured program began to grow. The organization was volunteer-led and a partnership with Whistler-Blackcomb grew stronger in order to provide an improved service to clients with disabilities.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP), as it became known in August of 2005, continues to strengthen its relationship with Whistler-Blackcomb. In July of 2006, WASP signed an official memorandum of understanding that solidifies its partnership with Whistler-Blackcomb on its WASP: Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program. Thanks to this important partnership, WASP continues to be able to provide more lessons each year and draw skiers from the Sea to Sky Corridor, the Lower Mainland, all over Canada, as well as the ever-growing international destination skier and snowboarder. WASP had set a goal, this season, of teaching 575 lessons and with the support of Whistler-Blackcomb and our new Program Supervisor Carol Maclaine, by the end of the season we had delivered 803 lessons, which is a 55% increase from last season.

Whistler-Blackcomb sponsors and provides support to the WASP: Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program in many ways. Whether they are assisting with administrative support, marketing, conducting accessibility audits, providing office and check-in desk space or ensuring that individuals with a disability have greater access to their facilities, Whistler-Blackcomb demonstrates that they are a tremendous partner and sponsor.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program was also delighted to have one of their volunteer ski instructors named Volunteer of the Year by DSABC. Bob Keunz, a long standing volunteer with WASP and one of our experts in instructing individuals with vision loss, was nominated by the family of a young lady he has taught for many years from Hawaii. Other National Awards that were presented this season include the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing's Instructor of the Year to Sietse Breedjik, one of WASP's full time Ski and Snowboard Instructors, and the Administrator of the Year to Chelsey Walker, WASP's Executive Director.

These recent awards, presented by both the Disabled Skier's Association of BC and the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing emphasize the marked growth and strength of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program. By recognizing one of our partners, Whistler-Blackcomb, our volunteers and staff, the awards demonstrate that the Whistler Area is truly on the leading edge of the adaptive sports world. They mark yet another step towards our goal of becoming not only a centre for excellence for individuals with a disability to achieve their sporting goals and dreams but to become the most inclusive mountain community in the world.

For further information please contact WASP

Woolstencroft and Williamson set blistering times to win Rotary GS Titles
April 23, 2007
For Immediate Release

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, (WASP) awarded Lauren Woolstencroft and Chris Williamson, with Guide Nick Rush, of the Canadian Alpine Disabled Ski Team the first Overall Male and Female Titles in the Rotary Recreational GS. The Giant Slalom, held on Whistler Mountain, capped off a season of unprecedented growth for WASP and has positioned Whistler at the leading edge for adaptive ski and snowboard racing in Canada.

Members of the Canadian Alpine Disabled Ski Team blasted through the gates alongside athletes relatively new to the sport. Spectators were being treated to watching local favorites Brad Lennae, Matt Hallat, and Snowboarder Tyler Mosher. Joining Williamson and Woolstencroft, wining Overall Junior was Jay Maloney, of Salmo, BC, and Guide Tyler Maloney. Jay, at the age of only 13, was hot on the tails of the Senior Racers and laid down one of the best times of the day.

First time racers, such as Kelly Smith of WASP, and Alison Hobbs of Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports, skied alongside the leaders of the sport. Attracting racers from across Canada, the field of 31 represents both the present and future of the sport. Peter Engstad of Alpine Canada was also in attendance to witness the birth of this Spring Classic and to pay thanks to race organizers. The support and leadership of the volunteers of WASP and the Rotary Club of Whistler ensured the smooth execution of the two runs. The additional support of Scotiabank, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Whistler-Blackcomb, the Whistler Brewing Company and Zog's were integral to the success of the race.

Ross Harlow, President of the Rotary Club of Whistler, and Val Plourde, Scotiabank Pemberton Branch Manager, were on hand to present the awards to the athletes. Category winners included, Lauren Woolstencroft (Standing Skiers - Women), Kathleen Forestall and Guide Emily Glossop (Visually Impaired - Women), Chantal Fowler (Sitting Skiers - Women), Chris Williamson and Guide Nick Rush (Visually Impaired - Men), Josh Dueck (Sitting Skiers - Men), and Chris Erfle (Standing Skiers - Men), Mark Hopkins (Cognitive Disabilities), Kyle Whitelaw (Hearing Impaired), and Tyler Mosher (Snowboarding).

Isobel Maclaurin, of the Rotary Club of Whistler, was on hand to award the Overall Male and Female of the Day which recognizes the fasted factored combined times of the day, regardless of category. Woolstencroft and Williamson walked away with prizes from Rossignol and special trophies crafted by local artist Penny Martyn.

The Rotary Club of Whistler and Scotiabank employees treated all of the race participants and volunteers to a BBQ after the awards ceremony. The group of dedicated volunteers and race organizers has laid a strong foundation from which this event will benefit for many years to come.

For further information please contact WASP

Rotary Recreational GS Race Results
Click here to download results

Accessibility advisory group making progress
Click here to view story in Pique Newsmagazine

How a broken back gave birth to a dream
Click here to view story in The Globe And Mail

Whistler Nordics Host 29th Annual Loppet, partners with WASP to ensure greater access to Nordic skiing
February 1, 2007
For Immediate Release

The Whistler Nordic Ski Club will host the 29th Annual Loppet on Feb. 11th, 2007 at the Nicklaus North Clubhouse. With the excellent snow conditions and increased interest in Nordic skiing, the Club expects that this year's Loppet will be the most successful to date. The Loppet will feature 30km, 15km (recreational categories), 4km (Junior) and for the first time a 4km route for Athletes with a Disability.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program will be working in co-operation with the Whistler Nordic Club to promote greater access to Nordic Skiing in the Whistler Area. With the many training and test events scheduled in anticipation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it became clear that the two organizations could achieve success by working together. Both organizations see the Games as an opportunity to focus attention on the long history and importance of grass-roots sports in the Whistler Community.

The weekly Nordic Loonie Races have attracted an increased number of participants, and have seen participation from the disabled community, a testament to the hard work of the organizer Munro Duncan and the many businesses that sponsor the events. Local athletes such as Sidney van Loon and Tyler Mosher have started to attract attention to the burgeoning Nordic scene. The profile of Nordic skiing in Whistler will be prominent well beyond 2010.

A recent audit of the Lost Lake Area conducted by sitting skier James Hustvedt and Assistant Supervisor of the RMOW Nordic Area, Craig Baillie, identified some vital, but easy to fix barriers. The support of the staff of the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the Whistler Nordic Club will ensure that athletes with a disability will have greater access to the Nordic trails and events throughout the next few years.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program and the Whistler Nordic Club see Nordic Skiing in Whistler as being poised to see explosive growth over the next few years. Their ability to work in partnership, along with Provincial Sporting Bodies Cross-Country BC and the Disabled Skiers Association of BC, is indicative of the co-operative and innovative sporting scene within the Whistler Valley.

For further information please visit the Whistler Nordics website at www.whistlernordics.com

Local Snowboard Instructor Heads to First National Adaptive Snowboarding Summit
January 30, 2007
For Immediate Release

Craig Watson, a local snowboarding instructor and volunteer with the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program will be flying to Calgary to attend the first Canadian Adaptive Snowboard Program National Summit. The Sport Building Task Force, in which Craig will be a participant, will be taking place Feb. 2, 2007 at the Calgary Olympic Park. Craig has just completed, along with WASP: Scotiabank Learn to Ride instructor Sietse Breedjik, the Canadian Snowboarding Federation's Pilot Basic Coaching Adaptive Course in Big White. Craig has now been selected to go to Calgary and participate in this groundbreaking event.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is excited to have our instructors and volunteers participate in National level summits. Thanks to the funding provided by Scotiabank for Adaptive Snowboarding, we are able to ensure that Whistler continues to be at the forefront of adaptive sport. Craig Watson will also be able to first hand relate the excitement back to our community around the shaping of Adaptive Snowboarding in Canada.

Sietse Breedjik and Craig Watson recently made the trip to Big White for the Canadian Snowboarding Federation's (CSF) Pilot Basic Coaching Adaptive Course. The course was taught by Cristian Hrab, Director of Sport Development for the CSF. By the end of the course the two WASP instructors even ended up coaching some of the athletes that attended the CSF's Learn to Train weekend. Their experience was invaluable and they returned to Whistler enthusiastic and ready to help further develop WASP's Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program. We expect that their future participation and new knowledge will ensure that WASP moves towards our goal of being a training centre for athletes and instructors/coaches alike.

The relationship that has been developed between the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program and the Canadian Snowboarding Federation will grow and mature over the next few years. The reputation of Whistler as a resort and community that is inclusive of athletes with a disability will become known world-wide. The success of Tyler Mosher as an Adaptive Snowboarding Athlete and ambassador for the sport will focus even further attention on Whistler.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program will continue to continue to collaborate with Provincial and National Sports Organizations in order to offer the best possible recreational opportunities to individuals with a disability in the Whistler Area. We strive to provide programs of excellence and to help to build the most inclusive and accessible mountain community in the world.

For further information please contact WASP

New adaptive alpine race program launched
Click here to view story in Pique Newsmagazine

Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Starts New Adaptive Alpine Race Development Program
January 4, 2007
For Immediate Release

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, (WASP) is preparing to launch its newest program. The Adaptive Alpine Race Development Program will provide recreational racing and training opportunities for individuals with a disability in the Whistler Valley.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is collaborating with the Disabled Skiers Association of British Columbia and the Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports to provide a program that will fill a gap in the development of Alpine Ski Racing Athlete's with a disability. Thanks to funding provided by Pacific Sport and the support of their staff, WASP, VASS and DSABC were able to hire Dana Williams as its first Alpine Ski Racing Coach.

Dana Williams joins WASP as the Sea to Sky Coach. Dana is an alumnus of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and previously raced for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team. Dana joined the Canadian Alpine Disabled Ski Team in 2004 and acted as the Assistant Coach until 2006. Dana's wealth of knowledge and skills he has attained as a racer and coach will have a positive impact on the future of Alpine Ski Racing for individuals with a disability in the Whistler Area.

WASP continues to value the need for grassroots programs for individuals with a disability. The strong foundation of the WASP: Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Programs will ensure that this program will also be successful. The goal of the WASP: Adaptive Alpine Race Development Program is to develop each athlete's skills and ski technique so they are capable of advancing onto the British Columbia Disabled Alpine Ski Team. We hope that by mirroring the athlete development programs that exist within the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, we will be able to ensure that Whistler-grown athletes are at the forefront of Adaptive Alpine Ski Racing.

The WASP: Adaptive Alpine Race Development Program has come about due to the years of background work and planning by the High-Performance Director of the Disabled Skier's Association, Sian Blyth. The Building our Best Programs that have been developed are now considered to be a national standard for athlete development. WASP hopes to harness the momentum built in that program and carry it forward through the next few years.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is excited about adding this sixth program to the recreational opportunities that we offer to individuals with a disability in the Whistler Area. We continue to count on the support of our community, our partners (Scotiabank and Whistler-Blackcomb, our funders (Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation) and our volunteers. We will continue to strive to provide programs of excellence and to help to build the most inclusive and accessable mountain community in the world.

For further information please contact WASP

Alpine skiing results: Nor-Am Cup for skiers with a disability
Click here to view story at SIRC Sport Research

Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Launches an Expanded Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program
December 5, 2006
For Immediate Release

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, (WASP) launched its largest Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program on Nov. 23rd, 2006. WASP continues to experience new growth as Whistler moves towards becoming the most accessible mountain community in the world.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is proud to expand and strengthen its partnership with both Soctiabank and Whistler-Blackcomb. After teaching 515 lessons last season to locals and visitors, WASP has set a target of 575 lessons for the 2006-07 season. Visitors from Ireland, UK, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico, US, Caribbean come to Whistler in order to take part in the Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program.

The growth and popularity of the WASP: Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program has meant that we have increased the volunteer instructor pool from 80 to over 100 individuals working within our Program. These volunteers are dedicated to ensuring that any of our disabled visitors or residents can enjoy the Alpine Recreation opportunities that exist within the Whistler Area. The Volunteers are headed up by a new Program Supervisor and five paid instructors. Carol Maclaine (WASP: Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program Supervisor) joins WASP after spending nine years working for Whistler-Blackcomb. WASP welcomes Carol into her new role and we are confident that her organizational skills will continue to raise the bar for the WASP: Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program.

Scotiabank continues to be a cornerstone of the WASP family of supporters. Thanks to their support, WASP was able to hire Sietse Breedjik to head up the Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program. We will be developing a larger snowboarding component to offer to locals and visitors alike. Sietse brings a wealth of snowboarding knowledge to the role of WASP Snowboarding Instructor and will be working hard with the Canadian Snowboarding Federation and the Disabled Skiers Association of BC to ensure that Whistler is at the forefront of the latest teaching techniques and adaptation for snowboarders with a disability.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is thankful for the support that it receives from the community. New partnerships and funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation, and the many, many others will ensure that WASP will continue to experience growth in all of our Programs. This support has also meant that WASP is another step closer of our vision of becoming an organization that provides year-around, recreational programs for people with disabilities that equals that reputation, as well as a center for learning and sports excellence that has a local, regional, national and international clientele.

For further information please contact WASP

WASP receives $50,000 grant from WB Foundation
Click here to view story in The Question

Forging partnerships, moving forward
Click here to view story in The Question

SCOTIABANK SUPPORTS TrailRider Day on Whistler Mountain
July 21, 2006
For Immediate Release

WHISTLER ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH BC MOBILITIES OPPORTUNITIES SOCIETY ON HIKING DAY JULY 26TH, WHISTLER,BC

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, (WASP) is hosting four participants for its first TrailRider day on Whistler Mountain. WASP has partnered with the BC Mobility Opportunities Society to provide access to the alpine hiking on Whistler Mountain. Scotia Bank and the Resort Municipality of Whistler have provided the funding to make this day possible.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is dedicated to the support of adaptive recreational opportunities in the Whistler Area. With the support of Scotia Bank, the Resort Municipality and Whistler-Blackcomb, the alpine areas of Whistler are now accessible to all visitors. By launching a summer program, WASP aims to highlight the natural attributes and amazing experiences in the Whistler, and to provide world-class service to both residents and visitors with disabilities.

The BC Mobility Opportunities Society will be bringing five TrailRiders to Whistler on July 26th. The TrailRider was designed specifically to allow people with significant disabilities to gain access to the wilderness. Built using lightweight aluminium, the vehicle resembles a wheelbarrow with two handles at the front and two at the back. A large pneumatic tire allows the TrailRider to roll easily over rocky, rough terrain, tree roots and through streams.

The vehicle is also equipped with a hand-operated, lightweight disc brake system located on the rear handles of the TrailRider. Two able-bodied people push/pull the TrailRider.

The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is proud to partner with Scotiabank, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Whistler-Blackcomb to make such opportunities possible.

For further information please contact WASP

Adaptive Sports Program expands into summer
Click here to view story in The Question

WASP to offer adaptive kayak program
Click here to view story in Pique Newsmagazine

Canadian National Disabled Ski Team Announced
Click here to view story on CanadianSport.ca

From snow to water
Adaptive sports program offers four summer courses.
Click here to view story in Pique Newsmagazine

Press archive for 2005/2006