volunteer HUB

From December to June, we offer free monthly weekend snowsports support and instruction for individuals with a wide variety of physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Our host for our on-snow activities is Mammoth Mountain in northern California. Our snowsports adaptive athletes ski or ride all day on Saturday and then Sunday until noon. Each athlete is paired with an experienced adaptive snowsports instructor and one to four assistants (“shadows”) as needed.

Thanks to Mammoth Mountain’s generous support of our adaptive snowsports program, our volunteer instructors and shadows get a free lift ticket for all day Friday and the afternoon on Sunday (starting around 12:30 pm). First time volunteers are asked to attend our annual Dryland Clinic in October (San Diego or Orange County) and our annual on-snow volunteer training up in Mammoth in December.

There is no prior experience needed working with adaptive snowsports athletes and no medical training required; however, you must be comfortable skiing or snowboarding blue intermediate runs – sometimes at a fast pace. We expect all our volunteers to be professional, respectful, and courtesy while up at Mammoth Mountain representing The Unrecables.

Our members (instructors, shadows, and adaptative athletes) are ultimately responsible for their own transportation and lodging. However, we are happy to help coordinate carpools and we do offer reasonably priced (currently $80/night) shared lodging at Sunshine Village Condominiums in Mammoth Lakes (Meridian Blvd). 

TYPICAL WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday: Arrive at the main lodge and make it to Roma’s Room (3rd floor) by 8:15 am. Submit any remaining forms to the Trip Director and obtain your 3-day lift pass (unless you already have an Ikon pass). You are then free to ski and ride the entire day. Be sure to check conditions on Discovery (ch. #11) as well as Stump Alley and Mambo (ch. #2) as these are runs that the group tends to use a lot.

Saturday: Arrive at the main lodge and make it to Roma’s Room (3rd floor) by 8:15 am.  At 8:30 am introductions are made, a short meeting is held, and volunteer instructor/shadow assignments are given. A group picture is taken before heading out. You will be assigned a Primary Instructor (PI) who will lead the lesson with the adaptive athlete. Your PI will explain to you the situation with the athlete and what they expect of you as a shadow. We try to head by 9:00 am and return for lunch (60 minutes) between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm. After lunch we head out again until 3:30 pm. After attending fully to your adaptive athlete and being released by your PI, the rest of the day is free for you. The club hosts a dinner in one of the condos at 6:30 pm for all instructors, volunteers, athletes and their families.

Sunday: Arrive at the main lodge and make it to Roma’s Room (3rd floor) by 8:15 am.  There will be a short meeting at 8:30 am at which different volunteer assignments may be given. Head out with your team by 9:00 am and return between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm. After attending fully to your adaptive athlete and being released by your PI, the rest of the day is free for skiing and riding on your own or with your new friends.