As the start of Maine Handicapped Skiing's 2008 season quickly approaches, the volunteer training program also accelerates. Each volunteer instructor is required to take two days of on-snow training: one on "Principles of Skiing," which covers the basics that pertain to all, plus one on "Adaptive Ski Techniques."

Yesterday five groups -- four doing "Principles" and one for "Adaptive" -- were on the hill at Sunday River. Although I've already completed my training, I drove up with a friend who needed to complete hers.

Nearly all were returning volunteers, with an average tenure of about seven years. I shadowed one group for an hour and took some pictures.

Our group's leader was Buzz Hollander, better known perhaps as a mainstay of the ski school at nearby Mt. Abram. He's one of several MHS trainers -- "clinician" is the current buzz word in the skiing world -- who hails from the neighborly slopes of Mt. Abram.

Buzz Hollander gives some skiing advice to Beverley Healy yesterday at Maine Handicapped Skiing's volunteer training session at Sunday River.
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Beverley Healy listens.
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Buzz has been around the ski scene for many decades! He fondly recalls riding the Snow Trains from Boston to North Conway back in the 1940s. He's also earned the highest level of certification from the Professional Ski Instructors of America. Many MHS volunteer instructors -- including myself -- have some level of PSIA certification, but only a few have achieved the top tier like Buzz.

After riding the South Ridge Quad, Buzz started with stretching exercises. After that, we continued to work on the basic concepts of balance, edging, pressure and rotation that underlie all skiing -- including adaptive schussers.

Stretching exercises before taking our first run. Another MHS training group is in the background.
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Buzz demonstrates the basics.
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Pat Gregoire had a group working on "Adaptive Ski Techniques," where all sorts of devices and specialized contraptions are used to help physically disabled people experience the freedom and exhilaration of skiing down snow-covered slopes.

Indoors at the MHS slopeside lodge, clinician Pat Gregoire demonstrates the use of ski outriggers and points to a variety of ski tip retention devices as part of yesterday's training on "Adaptive Ski Techniques."
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The MHS office staff was equally busy yesterday, processing all the needed paperwork -- medical certificates, etc. -- from the 250-plus students who will start lessons the first week of 2008.

I should also remind Ski Bum blog readers that all MHS teaching is free to all students -- and always has been since the organization was founded by former Sunday River owner Les Otten and Dr. "Chip" Crothers, an orthopedic surgeon from Portland.

It's due to the dedication of 300-plus volunteer instructors and the continuing fund-raising success of the MHS Ski-a-Thon, held each March.

That's the buzz on Maine Handicapped Skiing for yesterday.

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