GDSP Volunteer Information The Gateway disAbled Ski Program Dryland Training and Season Pass Pick-up will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, 6:30 p.m. at Hidden Valley Ski Resort  Print your Season Pass application out from the website and mail it to Hidden Valley.   Your pass will be ready for you to pick up on November 16th.   Volunteers must attend! As an on-hill volunteer you will be asked to assist our athletes with all aspects of learning how to ski and snowboard. This may include physically assisting students with transfers, assisting with equipment set-up, chair lift loading, assisting athletes with on-hill skiing techniques or just be available to help athletes overcome the fear of learning to ski. Most of our ski activities are on a one-to-one or two-to-one basis, where volunteers help athletes learn in a fun atmosphere. Volunteers are also needed to tether and out-ski athletes who use adaptive ski euipment such as the bi-ski on snow-slider. Skiing and non-skiing volunteers are needed to make this program successful. Equipment volunteers are needed to help keep adaptive equipment in good working order, make repairs and maintenence, to move adaptive equipment on to the ski hill, help athletes get fitted to equipment and creat new adaptations to assist the atheltes in the learning process. Special Event Volunteers are needed to help celebrate the athletes accomplishments, secure sponsors and to help in in fund raising. To volunteer e-mail gdspstlouis@yahoo.com or print out an application and mail it to Hidden Valley Ski Area at the address listed below.
Professional Training Clinics designed to be fun learning experiences are provided to all volunteers. Discount Season Passes are offered to all Volunteers and Athletes Free Ski Lessons. Be the best volunteer possible, join the fun! Do you want to be a better instructor? You can purchase the ALPINE MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT POCKET GUIDE from PSIA FOR $5.50. Browse the PSIA Accessories Catalog at psia.org and click on educational products.
GDSP depends on volunteers to keep the program running. There is no charge by GDSP to volunteers nor are any of the volunteers paid. Each volunteer must purchase a season pass from Hidden Valley. A season lift pass for volunteers is $50.00 if you have your own equipment. The Season lift pass with Rental skis and boots is $75.00. The passes can be purchased directly through Hidden Valley at the Training Session or by mail. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old. Volunteers 12 to 15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Experienced and novice skiers are welcome as volunteers. Because of the short season, training of new volunteers is done by experienced volunteers during the program. Most volunteers participate one of the two nights a week, however, some come both nights. Extra volunteers are needed on Mondays to assist physically disabled skiers on and off the lift and assist them on the hill. Thursday night, when visually impaired and Special Olympics athletes ski, is the busiest night. Some athletes require two volunteers to assist them on the hill. There are also opportunities for non skiers in committees that assist with recruiting, maintaining equipment, coordinating paperwork, organizing the volunteers and athletes for the mid-America games and organizing social functions. Most volunteers return year after year. Helping disabled athletes experience the freedom and joy of skiing has its own special rewards.	Join the Fun Volunteers and Athletes Print your registration form now bring it to Hidden Valley on December 1, 2009 at 6:30 p..m. or mail to: Hidden Valley Ski Area 17409 Hidden Valley Drive Wildwood, Missouri 63025 gdspstlouis@yahoo.com 636 938-6478