No Excuse Not To Ski or Board!

While skiing is the biggest program at the NAC, many people in Utah have never hit the slopes on more than a sled in the backyard. If you're one of those people, you don't know what you're missing! Park City Mountain Resort is trying to help you out, though. Read on to find out about their new program to help you become as enamored with the Greatest Snow on Earth as the thousands of people who come from around the world each winter to ski or board Utah's powder.

PARK CITY, UTAH (December 2, 2009) – Park City Mountain Resort announces “StartNOW”, a ski and snowboard school program for first-time skiers and riders designed to increase snowsport participation among Utah residents, ages six and up. Park City Mountain Resort’s StartNOW program offers participants five days of instruction, equipment rentals and lift access for only $25 per day.

“Research shows that a low percentage of Utah residents participate in snowsports. We want to encourage them to experience the magic of skiing and snowboarding,” said Tom Pettigrew, director of skier services for Park City Mountain Resort. “We determined that we needed to develop a program that provided a low entry barrier to trying the sport. At just $25 per day, our StartNOW program is an exceptional value and with a maximum of five students per class, participants receive personalized attention from their instructors.”

The StartNOW Program is offered to all Utah residents six and older that have never skied or snowboarded and includes an afternoon ski or snowboard lesson, rentals and a lift ticket for $25. After completion of the first StartNOW lesson, participants are invited to return to the Resort up to four additional times during the 2009-2010 winter season. Return participants will be able to enjoy any combination of an afternoon lesson, rentals and lift ticket for the low price of $25.

The StartNOW program is being offered all winter season long beginning December 4, 2009, with blackout dates from December 18, 2009 - January 3, 2010 and February 13-20, 2010. Interested participants are required to sign up online at startnow.pcmr.com. Space is limited so participants are encouraged to sign up early.

About Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort, the most accessible mountain resort in North America, is located in the heart of Park City, Utah and is only a 40-minute drive from the Salt Lake City International Airport. With 3,300 acres of unspoiled terrain, the Resort offers groomed Signature Runs™, bumps, powder, trees, eight peaks, nine bowls, four terrain parks, and the Eagle Superpipe. Park City Mountain Resort was once again ranked a top-five resort by the readers of SKI andTransworld Snowboarding magazines and a top-10 ski resort in North America by Conde Nast Traveler. For more information, visit www.parkcitymountain.com or call (800) 222-PARK.

Grassroots Advocacy Partnership Survey

The Grassroots Advocacy Partnership (GAP) is gathering information for as part of a survey of the disability community to gather important data to use in making a case for the importance of disability services during the 2010 Utah Legislative Session.

The first link below is a survey directed primarily at people with disabilities and their families. The second link is directed primarily at people who are professionals and/or volunteers. You are welcome to take both if both apply to you.

Please pass this survey on to anyone and everyone so that GAP can get a good sampling of data from the Utah communities. We will officially close the survey on Sunday, November 29, 2009, and the data will be available on the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council website after December 1, 2009 at www.utahddc.org.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey(s) and then please pass this along to as many people as possible! Thank you!

Survey for people, family members, and friends

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=6fUTPTmg4GHIFkjUTaceWA_3d_3d

Survey for professionals and volunteers

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=50Zvur4v_2bzJe8L_2ffkEdJvw_3d_3d

Western Sled Hockey League Games

Over the weekend the National Ability Center's Golden Eagles competed in the most recent round of games in the Western Sled Hockey League series. Thanks to everyone who came to support the Eagles!

The final scores were:

Friday, November 6th
NAC Golden Eagles 2 - 0 U.S. Jr. National Team
Phoenix Coyotes 0 - 9 U.S. Jr. National Team
NAC Golden Eagles 6 - 0 Phoenix Coyotes
U.S. Jr. National Team 4 - 1 NAC Golden Eagles

Saturday, November 7th
Phoenix Coyotes 1 - 7 U.S. Jr. National Team
NAC Golden Eagles 8 - 0 Phoenix Coyotes
All-Star Team 0 - 7 U.S. Jr. National Team

Peacefully to Pasture

Today was a sad day for all of us at the National Ability Center. After three years of working with many of the big and tall riders in the NAC's therapeutic and adaptive riding lessons, Bally passed away.

Measuring more than 16 hands tall, Bally towered over most participants and staff. His body was barely big enough to contain his big heart. Even to his last day, Bally had the respect of both his riders and fellow horses. As he took what would be one of his last walks across the ranch this morning, the other horses in the pastures walked to their fences seemingly knowing that something was wrong with the big Belgian Draft. Bally passed away only a few hours later.

Special thanks to Dr. Sam Hendrix and Dr. John Sieverts for their care of Bally over the last few days. Thank you to David & Sue Steinman, the Alysa Casey Family and Stella Tavilla for helping bring Bally to the NAC.

Sincerely,
Dale D. Schoon,
CEO National Ability Center

A Note from the Equestrian Program Staff:

Bally was a gentle giant who tried his best at dressage and barrel racing. We'll all miss him. - Equestrian Program Resource Manager, Jan Drake

Bally was a friend and mentor to many riders. His kind heart and willing nature will be greatly missed. Thank you to all those who helped make his stay here possible. The big guy changed many lives. - Equestrian Program Manager, Rae Sorensen