Instructors Needed!
We have many many new students this year. If you have the time, we have the students!
Don't hesitate to sign up for more hours. Contact our lovely and talented scheduler Jacque at
[email protected]
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Shop Online and Donate to Ignite
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http://smile.amazon.com/ch/84-0798064
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Stay Connected
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Ignite Leadership
Board of Directors
David Levin
Vice President
Art Heimbach
Secretary
Phil Nugent
Treasurer
Michael Travis
Members At Large
Mary Chokran
Julie Naster
Art Heimbach
Jason Kawaguchi
Phil Nugent
Michael Travis
Michael Roseberry
Emeritus Member
Paula Galloway
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Staff
Executive Director
Snowsports Director
John Humbrecht
Finance Director
Becci Seuberling
Equipment Manager
Stacey Lunn
Lead Administrators
Jennifer Donnelly
Robert Loomas
Scheduler
Jacque Carbone
Marketing Director
Dylan Monahan
Marketing Manager
Orri Jonsson
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| Fabulous Season is Over too Soon |
New Lesson Record
Through the hard work of our volunteers and with great support from our sponsors, Ignite Adaptive Sports provided over 1350 lessons this year. This is an increase of over 100% over last year and beats the previous record by 125 lessons. We had requests for even more lessons, but were unable to provide them. This shows that the need for the freedom and growth we offer through bringing people of all abilities to the mountains is greater than ever before.
We'd like to continue breaking lesson records going forward. To do this we need even more volunteers and financial backers. Do you know someone that should be introduced to the program? Do you have a friend or relative that is looking for an opportunity to give back to the community? Let them know about the great work you have done and see if they want to join you in providing life altering experiences to the disabled community nation wide.
Stats on the season: 1361 lessons for 214 individual students. Most lessons in one day: 48 lessons conducted by 63 volunteers on Friday March 13th Most volunteers in one day: 71 volunteers, 11 lessons, Jan 9th Most lessons attended by a single student: Sasha Newmann, 21
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First Parent and Caregiver Day a Rousing Success!
 The first ever Parent and Caregiver Ski and Ride Class in the country took place on March 22nd, 2015 at Eldora Mountain Resort presented by Ignite Adaptive Sports. The weather was bright and sunny, the snow, perfect! Instructor extraordinaire, Jacque Carbone, led the clinic with admirable assistance by Terri Rosenbaum and Keith Jimmerson.
The purpose of this clinic was to instruct parents and caregivers the skills needed to be able to ski as a family with their disabled child. The three dads representing their families were a little nervous but those concerns were laid to rest as the lesson progressed and they realized that they had all the skills needed to ski with their children. The clinic was safe, informative and FUN, the first of many to come. Read what Bob had to say about the clinic at on the website.
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New Sit Ski Paid for by the Sandy Lewarton Memorial Fund
Ignite is proud to have purchased the new Dynamique Bi Ski from Enabling Technologies in memory of Sandy Lewarton. The purchase was made possible by private donations to her Memorial fund. Sandy loved teaching bi/mono lessons which led to this equipment decision. We will have an engraved plaque with her name mounted on the seat back. In honor of her fondness for dress up days and a great collection of costumes and accessories I would like to add some other bling! "Be?dazzled bi ski!!".
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New PSIA Certifications
This year we had eleven Ignite instructors take PSIA/AASI exams to further their training and certifications. All of them passed! Congratulations to: Kaylyn Van Deusen - Alpine Level I Alton Mikkelson - Alpine Level I Mary Weis-Fout - Alpine Level I Nick Mimmo - Alpine Level I
Matt Wight - Adaptive Level I Terri Rosenbaum - Adaptive Level I Rosemary Bogart - Adaptive Level I Karen Kaminski (pictured)- Adaptive Level I John Humbrecht - Alpine II Movement Analysis Jason Kawaguchi - Alpine II Movement Analysis
Stacey Lunn- Children's Specialist I Lofton Henderson - Children's Specialist I
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Heidi Hatch Cross Country Instructor Award
 Ignite instructor David Bye won the Heidi Hatch Cross Country Instructor award at the National disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic (NDVWSC) at Snowmass in early April. NDVWCS is the largest gathering of wounded veterans in the USA and is sponsored by the US Dept of Veterans Affairs. Instructors are selected by invitation only. Congratulations to David!
Read more about the award and David Bye's reaction on the website.
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New Equipment Trailer Carpet
The new carpet in the equipment trailer was donated by Atlas Flooring of Boulder. Thank you Atlas! Go there for your carpet and flooring needs.
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National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic (NDVWSC)
Ignite was well represented at NDVWSC as 14 Ignite instructors were invited to participate this year. We salute John Humbrecht, Stacey Lunn, Jason Kawaguchi, Tom Carroll, David Bye, David Schadle, Caron Newman, Timothy Jones, Alan Apt, Keith Jimmerson, Finn Murphy, Anna Suter, Andre Mallinger, and Lofton Henderson. Learn more about the clinic at http://wintersportsclinic.org/
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Boulder County's Farmers' Markets
 The ski season is over but our work is not done. Now is the time to start preparing for next season and as a part of that we will continue working with Boulder County's Farmers' Markets to bring knowledge of the program to more students, volunteers and donors. Do you have some time to donate this summer? We will send out messages this summer to seek people to work with us.
Are there similar events closer to where you live where you think it would be good for us to have a presence? Contact Orri and Dylan at
[email protected]
to share your ideas.
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Cheese Cutter Award
 John Peterson was awarded the prestigious Cheese Cutter Award on Friday March 20th. Make sure you get a cheese name and do nomination worthy deeds next winter so that you stand a chance of getting the award. Congratulations John!
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Courtney and Nick, a Dynamic Duo
Courtney and Nick Mimmo both started with Ignite this fall and we chatted about their experience with Ignite for a little while a few days ago.
Courtney, was recruited at the Farmers Market when shopping with my visiting mother. After hearing that the program helped kids and adults on the Autism Spectrum, my mother said I should really go and check it out (my nephew is on the spectrum). Nick and I love skiing together, and Nick is an awesome coach/mentor, so this seemed like a great way for the two of us to spend time together and learn more about adaptive skiing. Learn more about Courtney and Nick's experience with Ignite on the website.
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Test Driving at Ignite
Enabling Technologies (ET) located in Denver, Colorado is an industry leader in design and manufacture of adaptive snowsports equipment along with other adaptive sports equipment. ET is very supportive and responsive to the equipment needs of our program and programs throughout the world. ET offers several other brands such as the KBG Lynx mono ski, (we recently purchased), and many parts needed to keep us in good repair.
Ignite was chosen by ET to help with research and development of their new Bi?ski, the "Dynamique". Equipment Manager Stacey Lunn and 4 other Ignite staff have been working with Chris Witte at ET developing and testing the new ski for the past year.
It is a higher performance bi ski and has many great features! The articulating ski mechanism allows for advanced edging performance and uses the same binding as the Bi Unique and Mountain Man making it easy to swap skis. The instructor handle is adjustable for height with solid attachments, adjustable foot rest and a seating system including solid chest strap support. One of my favorite features is the up position for the lift load. Unlike many other sit ski's with this feature the Dynamique raises up and remains centered (not pitching the participant forward), making pushing into the lift line very easy.
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EXPAND Beyond, Skiing Through the Summer
 EXPAND Beyond, Inc. is a non-profit organization in Boulder, Colorado providing recreational opportunities for people with physical disabilities. Their Adaptive Water Ski program has been providing a unique and safe opportunity for individuals with varying degrees of abilities and disabilities since 1983. Each year more than 40 dedicated and caring individuals donate their time, boats, gas and inspiration so that their members can experience the incredible freedom and excitement of skiing on water. Take a look at their program
If you are interested in participating please visit them at ww.expandbeyondinc.com, or call (303) 817- 4950.
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Continued Great Support from Eldora Mountain Resort
 Finn met with EMR management on April 9th. We're happy to announce that EMR was thrilled at the Ignite success this year. EMR will extending their continuing support for Ignite going forward. Thank you Eldora Mountain Resort.
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Thank You Donors!
 We thank all our donors for their generous support. The donors provide Ignite Adaptive Sports with the financial foundation needed to keep the program running and both our students and volunteers coming back happy!
Please go to the website to see a full list of donors.
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