The 2024-25 GMAS ski season will go down as one of the busiest yet! Thanks to the generous support of our donors, and the hard work of all our volunteers, our ski programs continue to strive. We are growing meaningful partnerships, supporting athletes locally and at the Special Olympics of VT Winter Games, and now owning the first TetraSki in Vermont. We are so grateful, and GMAS scholarship recipients are also thankful to be able to participate in so many incredible adaptive programs and events. Thanks to all involved in making all of these wonderful, and meaningful things happen for our community.
Still short on the Winter Challenge Fundraiser
Lead Adaptive Stowe Mountain Resort Ski Instructor and GMAS Board member Tom Hall put it all out there again this year, skiing an impressive 62 runs off the Sunrise Six Pack on March 24th, skiing close to 75,000 feet of elevation to raise money for GMAS. Many thanks to Tom and to all who have supported his fundraising efforts.
We are thankful for your generosity this spring, but we have not reached our fundraising goal yet! We’re still hopeful that our supporters will come through to help us reach our $20,000 goal. The GMAS Winter Challenge concludes at the end of April. Thanks for helping if you can by making a tax-deductible donation. This year’s donation will help us continue to fund coaches’ trainings, because we all recognize the importance of having our coaches freshly certified, trained, and knowledgeable about the latest techniques and equipment available in the industry. Read more about the importance of training coaches here.
Tom Hall skied 62 runs off the Sunrise Six Pack at Stowe to raise funds for GMAS on March 24th.
GMAS Adaptive SkI and Ride Program Grows
GMAS broke all previous records again this year, putting more athletes in ski and ride adaptive lessons than ever. We recorded an increase of over 118% in scholarship lessons over the past four years, from 62 in 2021-2022, to 107 in 2022-2023, to 133 in 2023-2024, and to 150 in 2024-2025 (not including the TetraSki lessons). We are incredibly grateful for all the instructors who have gone above and beyond, supporting, inspiring, at times coaxing, and teaching with all their hearts all season long. Our goal is to be able to continue to support some of their trainings and accreditations next season and beyond, and to continue to serve as many individual athletes as possible.
Stowe TetraSki and Snow’ Kart Program Serves 23 individual athletes
GMAS instructors Allie and Sterling ski with Nate who is controlling the TetraSki with a joystick attached to his prosthesis.
We have worked hard to get this new program off the ground and could not be happier with the results (read the story here). Four years ago, GMAS and NDAA chose to collaborate on the TetraSki and Snow’Kart program. Together, we raised enough funds to purchase a TetraSki (the first in Vermont!), and trained 3 instructors under the tutelage of Nate Hanson and Cullen Robinson. In our first year, we offered a total of 58 lessons over the course of 33 days, to 23 unique participants, 11 in the TetraSki and 12 in the Snow’Kart. Our Stowe Program was also represented by three of our athletes who traveled to Powder Mountain in Utah to participate in the Brian McKenna TetraSki Express race late March. So many milestones were reached all season, and with a little extra help from our donors, we hope to do it all over again next year. Consider making a donation to Cathy Websters’ campaign so we can continue to offer this amazing program free of charge.
In case you missed it, the TetraSki is an incredible piece of technology that offers independent skiing for people with complex physical disabilities. Electric actuators on the TetraSki provide independent turning and speed variability through the use of a joystick or breath control, allowing the skier with limited strength and dexterity to operate the TetraSki safely and with a high degree of performance and independence. We wish to thank everyone involved in making this experience possible. Read the recap here.
GMAS Supports Five Skier Athletes to Train and Race in the VT Special Olympics Winter Games
For the second year, GMAS supported five Vermont Special Olympics athletes. Through the generosity of our donors, our organization was able to cover the costs associated with training five athletes who call Smuggler’s Notch their home mountain. This partnership with the Smuggler’s Notch Adaptive Program (SNAP) has been a great success for the past two years, and we look forward to continuing this important partnership. Congrats to all the athletes who concluded a fantastic ski season racing in the Special Olympics Winter Games at Haystack Mountain in Southern Vermont. Read the 2024 recap here.
Ella and her ski instructor are all smiles after the young athlete achieved meaningful gains this season.
Pilot Ski Program with SNAP
We explored a different type of partnership with Smuggler’s Notch Adaptive Program (SNAP) and funded a young athlete to receive a series of adaptive ski lessons this winter. Ella started the season in a bi-ski, and soon after graduated to a standing snow slider. She braved the elements, and gained a ton of confidence skiing with Sterling, her favorite ski instructor. She finished the season skiing independently with outriggers! We were there for Ella’s first time moving from Mogul Mouse’s Magic Lift to the Village Lift, and what an amazing moment that was! We are presently exploring ways to continue, and perhaps grow our partnership with the SNAP program and fund the participation of more adaptive athletes in need of financial aid for next season. Stay tuned!
GMAS Expands Partnerships with Yellow House Community
The Friends and staff of the Yellow House Community in Middlebury returned to ski with GMAS at Stowe Mountain Resort and had a blast again this year. We loved every minute of it, and look forward to more visits from the Yellow House community, who along with members of the Heartbeet Community who also join GMAS for skiing and riding adventures. Read more here.
Friends of the Yellow House had a blast skiing with GMAS at Stowe.
Veteran Marines Ski and Ride with GMAS
Our volunteers had a blast skiing with a group of Veterans Marines of Golf Battery 2nd Battalion from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The group, which included veterans relocated all over the east coast, stayed at the Commodores Inn and skied and rode at Stowe Mountain Resort. The five-day affair was built around bringing the vets together for to “Shred Memories of War,” and reunite with old friends. The Marines explored the mountain and discovered some secret powder stashes with our volunteers. Our friend “Pegleg” Patrick Brown, an adaptive skier and PSIA-AASI Level 1 Certified Instructor also acted as a coach and guide for the group. Read more here.
Veteran Marines of the Golf Battery 2nd Battalion came to ski and ride with GMAS for five days at Stowe.
13th Annual Monoski Camp The Biggest Yet
We once again held our Annual Stowe Monoski Camp in January, welcoming 70 people, 28 of them monoskiers. This event is possible with the generous support and collaborations of Stowe Mountain Resort and Epic Promise, Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers, Adaptive Sports Partners, Eastern Adaptive Sports, Move United, the Kelly Brush Foundation and the High Fives Foundation. The camp is the biggest of its kind in the east, and we look forward to continuing to lead the forces needed to regroup so many sit skiers for a day of instruction, skiing, and networking. Read the event recap and view photos here, and consider getting involved as a sponsor or a volunteer.
The group photo is getting bigger every year! Thanks to all involved for making this event such an incredible success and memorable experience for all! Photo: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur.
Skiers and riders of the Sendit Foundation had a blast with GMAS at Stowe Mountain Resort.
SendIt Foundation Sends it with GMAS
It was a real pleasure to welcome skiers and riders from the Sendit Foundation for their first event in the East! The Foundation’s mission is to inspire positivity, courage and gratitude in young adult cancer fighters and survivors through the gift of outdoor adventure and community. We had a blast hosting the group, and look forward to doing it again next year. Sincere thanks to Stowe Mountain Resort, the volunteers, and GMAS Board Members for contributing your positive vibes to the event!
What to expect in 2025-26
Hopefully the chance to create even more opportunities! As previously mentioned above, we will explore more opportunities to work with SNAP and support additional athletes in the SNAP ski and ride program. The funds raised through this year’s Winter Challenge Fundraiser will be used to fund more instructor training and a portion of the 2026 TetraSki program. Additionally, GMAS plans to boost its current grant program which supports coaches and instructors wishing to add certifications, and attend workshops and trainings to advance their experience and accreditations in skiing, swimming, or rock climbing.
We are now shifting our energy to our summer events and programs to include our Kayaking Program at the Waterbury Reservoir (registration is open!) and a NEW Adaptive Skateboard Program at Talent Skatepark in Burlington this fall. The Stowe Adaptive Mountain Bike Weekend returns on August 22-24 by popular demand. We will need volunteers, and athletes for all events and programs, so please stay posted. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
It’s a wrap!
Thanks again to all involved with our programs and events in one way or another! We could never accomplish so much without you, AND all the work from our Board Members. As you know, GMAS is 100% volunteer-run. We are excited for the warmer months ahead, and Adaptive Kayaking at the Waterbury Reservoir. For more information on that program, click here.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION so we can continue to serve our community!
Thanks to our amazing sponsors!
by Pascale Savard
April 19, 2025