Adaptive Snow Sports Mastery System©
Participants benefit from the unique
instructional programs which are a  function
of the Massanutten Adaptive Snow Sports
by developing a variety of new skills which
are designed to compliment many therapy
and special education goals.
An important therapeutic experience, the
Massanutten Adaptive Snow Sports prides
itself as the South's first and only
full-service adaptive snow sports program.
Providing two decades of service, close to
one-thousand individuals have successfully
received specialized instruction at our ski
school. Simply put, our approach to
teaching adaptive alpine skiing and other
adaptive snow sports is one which has a
proven history of success.
We are convinced that the best way to learn
is from a committed professional instructor
who works within the scope of a
well-organized coaching and teaching
progression. One of the most frustrating
arguments we commonly hear is that alpine
skiing is to complex and there are too many
variable for a systematic learning approach
to be effective. On the contrary! It is because
of this complexity that a systematic learning
approach is so important.
All good educational programs use an
organized teaching progression and ours in
no exception.
Each of our instructional courses is part of a
comprehensive learning system designed to
meet the individual needs of each student.
Our Adaptive Snow Sports
Mastery System® features twenty
different courses. All of these courses were
carefully designed to help you learn the
necessary skills, techniques and judgement
needed to safely experience the adaptive
snow sports world.
Starting with the basics, each of our
Adaptive Snow Sports Mastery
System® courses proceeds in an easy to
follow progression, allowing you to achieve
your most advanced level of independence
as quickly as possible. Course content has
been organized so each successive course
picks up where the last one ended, and in
many cases you can mix weekend and
midweek courses with no overlap or gaps.
All of our instructors receive extensive
training in these methods. Our instructors
are also trained to follow the 
PSIA Adaptive
Teaching Model©. Moreover, instructors also
make use of other valuable progressions and
instructional adaptations as defined by
Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA), Hal
O'Leary's internationally recognized
Winterpark Handicapped Skiing Program,
and PSIA's Child Centered Skiing - the
American Teaching System (ATS)© for
Children.
Using the chart below you can easily plan your learning
progress for any of our activities.
Phase I Courses - These are
introductory courses for people who have had
little or no experience with a particular activity.
They lay the foundation essential for all of our
other courses.
Phase II Courses - These courses
reinforce and build upon the basics presented in
Phase I. The many new skills introduced at this
level are developed through practice in a variety
of settings. Emphasis is placed on becoming more
proficient with movement and technical skills.
Phase III Courses - These advanced
courses are for people who have a solid grasp of
our Phase II skills. Emphasizing specific aspects
of an activity, these courses will help you to
develop the highest level of proficiency and
technical skill in Adaptive Snow Sports. Click on the options for more details.
In addition, our trained staff cover other important
aspects of Adaptive Winter Sport activities including:
- proper dress for the winter elements
- adaptive equipment selection
- preseason training and conditioning
- prevention of cold related injuries
- preparation for competition
- nutrition management for optimal performance
Please click on the link provided below to view the
"IndependenceCup" Photo Album:
View 04-05 photo album
View 05-06 photo album
Shared Adventures®
Adaptive Alpine / Nordic Skiing Package
For families and friends who wish to share
the skiing/snowboarding/snow shoeing
experience together with their spouse,
sibling, child, or friend who has a disability
(physical, developmental or chronic medical
condition). - Includes lift tickets, instruction
and equipment rentals and adaptive
equipment for the whole family or group.
Adapt-A-P.A.L.S.® - Training
(Adaptive - Adventure - Partnership
Alliance for Leadership Success)
Designed to train (Skier/Rider
Assistants) family members or friends so
that they may assist the challenged skier -
includes lift tickets, instruction & equipment
rentals and adaptive equipment.
Adapt-A-P.A.L.S.® Network
**Adaptive Skiers/Riders who are fairly
independent (able to ski / ride in control
with an ability to link turns, stop and use the
chairlift ) but who may require minimal
assistance, may sign up for an assistant
through ourAdapt-A-P.A.L.S.®
Network . Our skier/rider assistant will
provide supervision, assistance and
companionship while on the slopes (no
instruction).
Independent Tracker©
Reduced Rate Package
For individuals who have received previous
instruction and who are able to ski
independently -(includes lift ticket &
equipment rental and adaptive equipment).
Reduced rates are also available for
independent skiers who have their own
adaptive equipment.
FAST® - Frequent Adaptive Skier Tickets
For independent skiers who wish to
purchase a book of tickets which can be
used during any mid-week (M-Th) day or
twilight session.
 
A special developmental program for
children ages 4-10 which emphasizes
development of gross motor skills - using a
variety of unique therapeutic exercises, new
games, and cooperative challenges which
compliment Physical & Occupational
Therapy goals and objectives.
MASS - Alumni Services
One of the strengths of the Massanutten
Adaptive Snow Sports has always been our
alumni. They came to Massanutten wanting
to learn new skills, to face the challenges of
skiing, and to develop to their optimal
potential. Each skier has given so much
more to us than we could ever give to them.
Our alumni are an integral part of the MASS
family with many continuing a very close
relationship with the school They are
volunteers, donors, instructors, staff and
board members.
After taking a MASS course, we will
provide you with opportunities for learning
new skills, meeting old friends, and making
new ones. We continue to serve MASS
alumni through a growing menue of
courses, events, gatherings and educational
opportunities around the country. If you
want to find out what events are happening
in your area call us or e-mail us at
alumni@mass.edu.
MASS - Adaptive Senior Skiers
 
This program emphasizes the development
of skiing skills for Senior skiers as offered
by fellow Senior skiers.
Overnight Trips
Our staff offers services to help organize
and provide a variety of overnight
experiences for your group or agency. An
overnight experience can compliment many
other educational and therapy objectives as
well as help to address many of the logistical
problems associated with extensive travel.
Summit Club
 The Summit Club was organized to
recognize the courageous efforts of adaptive
skiers and snowboarders
who work to achieve a higher-level skill development and functional independence.
Members of this elite group consistently display and exemplify qualities that
we all can admire and strive to develop - hard work, discipline, perseverance, and bravery. Not to mention, each Summit Club member has
 also developed his/her adaptive skiing or snowboarding skills to a
level so that he/she can
successfully ski black diamond terrain.
In addition to sharing the awesome comradery and
fellowship with fellow Summit Club members, there are other reasons to become a member. All Summit Club Members are listed on a special sign up at the summit of "Paradice". There are many other benefits (some of which remain a secret and are
only revealed to fellow Summit Club Members).
Find out all the other things that make the Summit Club so special. Once you realize the benefits to being affiliated with this quality group of individuals, you too will work hard and become a Summit Club member.
Summit Club Members
• Joe Arnold-2-Track
• Kerri Bennett-Bi-Ski
• Stewart Bowers-2-Track
• Arron Bretzfeller
• Crystal Brittain-4-Track
• Jessica Butler-Bi-Ski
• Ike Cook-Mono-Ski
• Austen Fileitz-3-Track
• Ken Hall-Bi-ski
• Parham Johnson-Bi-Ski
• John Kostanecki-Mono-Ski
• Chris Lambruscatti-Bi-Ski
• Creed Leffler-Bi-Ski
• Toney Lineberry-Bi-Ski
• James Mayo-Mono-Ski
• Matty Mills-Bi-Ski
• Elizabeth Moore-Bi-Ski
• Susan Moyers-Bi-Ski
• Danny Parker-Bi-Ski
• Tyler Rich-4-Track
• Aaron Richmond-2-Track (Guiding for Blind)
• Dan Sowder-3-Track
• Josh Sundquist-3-Track
• Buzz Thompson-2-Track
• Caleb Ulfers-Bi-Ski
• Roland Van Barden-Bi-Ski
(In Loving Memory 6/09/77 to 1/01/01)
• Pat Welk-Mono-Ski
• Russell Wolfe-Mono-ski
Hope to see you soon -- at the Summit!
MASS - Video Analysis
Our staff offers the option to provide video
analysis of your Adaptive Snow
Sports experience. Visual feedback
through the use of video has been shown to
be very effective tool to aid in the learning
process. Video analysis not only allows you
to actually see what your skiing/riding looks
like at real speed, we can slow down and/or
freeze the frame to zero in on movement
analysis at specific points during the
skiing/riding phase that we film. People
learn quicker if they can actually see and
analyze their skills to determine how they
can be improved. For these reasons, we
believe that video analysis is an important
service to our clients. Not to mention, it is
nice to have video clips to share with your
friends and family - as you carve fresh
tracks in the snow. At the end of these
courses video segments of your skiing, as
well as your classmates and instructors will
be available for purchase.
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