Everything you need to know as the season gets going...

JANUARY 2024

HAPPY JANUARY SEASON STARTING SOON

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS - INFORMATION FOR INSTRUCTORS - TRAINING EVENTS - IMPORTANT DATES - OTHER VOLUNTEER ROLES

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD DESPITE THE SNOW.....

I am sure you are all wondering what is going on with the snow this year... it is coming. Or that is what we believe. If anyone has a special snow dance they can post on our FACEBOOK, that would be amazing.

At the moment, we have cancelled this weeks adult family program lesson and pushed them back a week.

CADS training and evaluations are all on. Tuesday night CADS Methodology and CASI overview sessions are still set for tomorrow night if you are scheduled. Meet at 5pm at the bottom of Grouse near Starbucks.

CADS 1 Ski and Snowboard certifications are going ahead as planned. If you are looking for details about locations and times, check on SNOWLINE, About ME, My Calendar. Then just hit the event you are scheduled for.

Unfortunately there are no more spaces if you have NOT already signed up.

SKI AND SNOWBOARD PASSES ARE READY!

If you are a student or instructor that has a program on Grouse Mountain, your pass is ready for pickup at Guest Services. The office is located at the base of Grouse Mountain, to the left of Starbucks. Just head in and let the desk person know you are with VASS and they will help you out.

If you are at Cypress Mountain or Mt Seymour, your Program Coordinator will let you know when passes are ready and what the next steps are.

Please try to pick up your pass before programs begin!

Any further questions, email info@vass.ca

STUDENT INFORMATION

VASS is working very hard behind the scenes to get all of the Instructors ready and trained up to have the best year ever. I'm sure you've already received communication from your Program Coordinators just to say hi and make sure that you know who you can email if you have any questions.

The first week of Lessons starts January 22th, 2024 for everyone!

Except for the Blue Streaks Race program which starts Jan 13th

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Thank you to all the incredible volunteers that have already committed to hanging out with VASS this season. We are so excited for those that have already done training and those that are about to embark on their training over the next few weeks.

Just to eliminate any confusion, if you were a new volunteer and did not have a chance to do the CADS training this year, that does not mean that you are not needed or wanted by VASS. You are absolutely needed and a vital part of what is about to happen. We will ensure that you are paired up with a certified instructor and you'll be able to go out and team teach while making a difference in somebody's life.

I am sure that you've already received communication from your Program Coordinators to let you know that there is Orientation Day for most people starting on Monday, January 15, with lessons starting the following week.

It is likely that YOUR SCHEDULE has not been posted yet, but rest assured that everything as is it should be.

Once the Program Coordinators make the schedules available, you will see it on your main profile page.

SAFE SPORT TRAINING MUST BE COMPLETED BY JAN 7th if you want to volunteer this season

Here are a link to get you all registered, if you have not yet started. CLICK HERE

ONLY 28% of instructors have completed this training

You might have done the training but not yet updated your profile. Please login to SNOWLINE and make sure in your profile, on the skills tab and add your NCCP number and confirmation that the course was completed.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

SKIMP

FREE LESSONS FOR YOU...We are happy to bring back SKIMP sessions which are for both ski and snowboard improvement. You can find these training dates available on SNOWLINE and you must sign up if you are going to attend. Find the TRAINING tab and EVENT LIST and then click on the event and signup.

CADS 2 SKI PREP and EVALUATION

Anyone that has completed their CADS 1 Ski is welcome to attempt their CADS 2 Ski certification. There will be a training weekend FEB 17-18, where we will go through exactly what the expectation is to be successful in the evaluation, such as looking at VI, OUTRIGGERS, ASD/CI and SIT SKI. And then on MAR 16-17 we will have the evaluation. The training is all completely free and the evaluation costs $50. Sign up for training and evaluation are on SNOWLINE.

People always want to know how hard is it... with preparation, it is highly achievable. For your personal skills, you need to be able to sit ski Paradise and 3-Track down the Cut as well as be able to teach all of the other disciplines.

Why would you want to do this?? It is fun, it is rewarding, and you can help students achieve higher goals!

Also:

It is the pathway to delivering a course
you get other cool opportunities to go to conferences
you can lead a program

AND.... you are helping make the mountains accessible for all.

CADS 3 PREP AND EVALUATION

If this is something you want to train for and attempt, please give me a call. Three individuals have already set their goals with me and we are looking for a few more to join the group. Once I know the group, we will set training around everyone's schedule. James @ 604 646 8277.... Tentative date for evaluation is April 6-7.

CADS 2 SNOWBOARD PREP AND EVALUATION

There will be a training weekend FEB 17-18, where we will go through exactly what the expectation is to be successful in the evaluation, such as looking at VI, OUTRIGGERS, ASD/CI and SIT SKI. And then on MAR 16-17 we will have the evaluation. The training is all completely free and the evaluation costs $50. Sign up for training and evaluation are on SNOWLINE.

CADS 3 SNOWBOARD Does NOT exist yet....

Here are a few dates to be aware of. More details will be flowing through our newsletters in a few weeks.

FIRST WEEK OF LESSONS JAN 22 - 28

FAMILY SKI AND RIDE WEEK.... an opportunity for family to come and hang with participants on the hill..... Feb 19-25

SKI/ SNOWBOARD - A -THON FUNDRAISER FEB 26-MAR 3

INSTRUCTOR SEASON PARTY MAR 1

VASS 50th PARTY MAR 2 Details coming soon.

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER VETERANS EVENT MAR 8-10

We are looking for a little help on a few committees and such, to help the season flow. Please check out below:

RENTAL EQUIPMENT SETUP

To try and make it easier for Grouse Mountain, we are going to be helping them set up gear for our busier programs. If this is something that interests you, as far as learning how to tech ski and snowboard gear and being able to commit to certain shifts, please email me at james@vass.ca.

We are offering training on January 11 at 5pm at Grouse Mnt. VASS will cover any cost for certifications.

Shifts we need covered will be weekly, running from the 3rd week of Jan to the 1st week of March for the following programs:

TUESDAY 4-7pm

WEDNEDSAY 3-430 pm and 4-7pm

FRIDAY 2 hours on Friday night to get ready for Saturdays

SATURDAY 745am-830am

This could be great role for someone who wants to help support VASS but is not interested in teaching.

EQUIPMENT ASSISTANT MANAGER/ CURATOR

Rick Turnbull has been our Equipment Curator for many years and is looking for some help as he shifts to more of a mentorship role. This role helps VASS maintain its fleet of equipment and is the lead in helping select future purchases, passing knowledge to everyone and aiding in annual maintenance of all sit skis.Please call James for more information and to chat about the role. 604-646-8277

VOLUNTEER PARTY COMMITTEE

We are looking a few people to help make a great season ending party for our VASS volunteers. Currently the event is a blank slate, but I feel like doing it on a mountain seems like a great time. Looking for 3-5 people to help lead the charge. Budget is negotiable. Friday March 1st is the date. FUN is a must. Email info@vass.ca to put your name forward.

SKI/SNOWBOARD-A-THON ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE

The current plan is run an 'A-THON' fundraiser in the last week of the scheduled lessons, with the intent of having students and instructors be able to participate. We have a digital platform being built that will manage a lot of the tech side of things. We are hoping a small group of people (4-5 max) will be involved in promotion and refinement of communications to everyone.

Email ALEX - info@vass.ca

Thank you to all that put your hands up. VASS is a great community and together we all help it thrive.