Welcome, Michigan Tech!

The Michigan Tech Opportunity Center is beginning to blossom! :) A brainstorming session took place this week with the volunteers, with hopes of having participants in time to provide excitement for the SuperTour races that Michigan Tech is hosting.

This is super exciting. The U.P...seriously, a fantastic community. :)

Stay tuned to learn more about the program that will take place at Michigan Tech.

Ski Sessions Begin, January 2011

Al Quaal Recreational Facility.
Stadium Area near the heated bathrooms.

Sessions will be from 4:30-5:30, and 5:30-6:30 on Tuesday evenings.

Please contact me via email for details and to sign up: jodi.tervo(at)cxcskiing.org

We look forward to meeting you!

Remember: Snow + Skis = Smiles!

Volunteer Training Sessions are Underway

Winter preparations will help to make a smooth transition into an amazing ski season ahead. Thank you, Volunteers!

Thank you, Ishpeming and Negaunee Community Foundations!

Because of generous donations like yours, our program is much closer to becoming self-sufficient. We are in the process of purchasing ski packages for our stand-up participants with the funds that you provided.

We all appreciate it!

Super Tour 2011 - Adaptive Race

Exciting news for the 2011 Super Tour Ski Event! January 28th - 30th.

Michigan Tech will be hosting the upcoming Super Tour. As a former host of the Junior Olympics and the Senior Nationals, they have created an amazing organizing committee who is dedicated to hosting high quality and high class ski events. The energy surrounding the Michigan Tech trails is incredible, and it is a venue that generates enthusiasm for life-long, outdoor physical activity.

The Tech Trails Crew has not only agreed to include an Adaptive Race, but has embraced the event. We will have a 1/2 km and 1 km race course open for anyone with a disability. Please come out and participate or cheer on the participants. The energy from every race will no doubt inspire anyone in attendance to strap on skis and enjoy our Upper Peninsula winters.

Welcome! No official schedule has been released, so please stay tuned for more information. :)

We Love You, Wilderness Sports!

Thank you sooooooo much for agreeing to donate free rentals for our program again this year! :) We all greatly appreciate it.

We are slowly increasing our supplies of skis, and are grateful for generous hearts like yours.

Al Quaal Here We Come!

Yippee! The paperwork has been signed, etc. and after a conversation with the Ishpeming Parks and Recreation Department yesterday we are ready to move in!

The Al Quaal Recreational Area along with the City of Ishpeming Parks and Rec Dept. have graciously accepted our proposal to use their ski trails and facilities this coming winter. We will have a storage shed for the ski equipment and there is a heated handicapped accessible bathroom located at the trail head. THANK YOU Ishpeming!

We will be meeting on Tuesday nights. I've heard that there are many people ready to try out skiing for the first time this winter. Sweet! :) Please start letting me know (jodi.tervo(at)cxcskiing.org) so that we can make sure everyone gets equal opportunity. Our times are still to be determined...darkness sets in so early in the winter. Each skier will need about 1 hour sessions. Right now the thought is to start at 4:30 and end sessions at 6:30. This will depend upon volunteer availability, ski equipment availability, and the sunlight. More to come on this.

For now, please register with me via email and let me know if a 4:30 or 5:30 start is better for you. This mini survey will help me determine scheduling. I will get a schedule started, and sent out mid-November.

We are still in need of donated ski equipment or donations of cash. We are hoping to pick up some used ski equipment at the Ski Swap this fall to make the most of our donations.

To the communities of Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula - THANK YOU for your support!

Attic Donations?

Why didn't I think of this before? Maybe people have ski equipment to donate...all sizes - skis, poles, and boots.

This campaign for our program has turned into a ski donation and funding request. If we receive donated skis and have funding left over it will be very useful in purchasing a wide array of ski boot sizes. It will be easier to fit skiers with skis and poles than boots.

The weather is cooling off, fall is in the air, and leaves are beginning to change. This means that winter is just around the corner. :)

On site equipment is our goal for his season. Your donations are greatly appreciated! Please contact me to arrange pick-up or drop off. (jodi.tervo(at)cxcskiing.org)

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Equipment Needs...Grant Apps...Any Ideas?

To all of those following the progress of CXC's Marquette Opportunity Center:

Currently we are searching for funds to purchase our own stand-up ski equipment. We have sit-skis for those skiers who need to sit while skiing, but we do not own our own stand-up equipment. Last year Wilderness Sports of Ishpeming generously donated free ski rentals to our participants. THANK YOU WILDERNESS! :) We may need to ask for donations of rentals again from local businesses, but would like to have our own.

To help our program development, flexibility, and all-inclusive mind-set we are seeking funds to purchase our own stand-up equipment. $2000.00 is our goal for this season, and that should purchase 10 sets of equipment.

If you know of anyone who may be willing to donate to our cause, please direct them to me (jodi.tervo@cxcskiing.org). We appreciate any and all support!

Thank you for following us, supporting us, and making our program successful!

We have a day!

We will be meeting on Tuesday evenings this winter. Very exciting to think winter is coming up so fast. More will be posted on specific times, and dates of events as we iron out details.

Make it a great day! :-)

Amputees climb Kilimanjaro

Check out this link.

A quote from the linked article below: "'The message we're trying to send back to the USA is no matter what disability you have you can be active,' said Kirk Bauer..."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100811/ap_on_re_af/af_war_vets_kilimanjaro_1

Name the Bear Contest!

The program mascot "Bear" has no name. Would you like to help name him/her?

In order to enter the contest you need to be one of the participants. You can enter one name per ski outing all winter long.

"Bear" will be named at the year end ski social.

Be creative and come often for your chance to name our mascot!

Contact Us to Sign Up

We are ready and waiting for the snow...well, almost.

This summer has allowed for great program development. Stay tuned in...Soon we will be able to officially announce our new program location! :)

In the mean time, feel free to contact me via email (jodi.tervo@cxcskiing.org) to sign up.

4th of July Promotion

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.

Thank you SAIL (Superior Alliance for Independent Living) and SPAR (Single Point for Adapted Recreation) for taking the time and effort to load one of our sit-skis onto your float so that the community of Marquette could see what our adapted equipment looks like.

The exposure gained through the 4th of July parade will hopefully bring more people out to enjoy our wonderful U.P. winters this upcoming season. ;)

Until next time...make it a great day! :)

All Ages and Abilities

Last year we had participants of all ages, abilities, and dreams. We have one participant with visions of winning the Paralympics someday, and others who simply want to enjoy the outdoors. We are excited to help each of them reach their goals and dreams this coming winter.

Thanks to all of the volunteers for making this program possible!

A bit about us...

Our program is very young, with our first participant strapping on skis in February of 2010. It was a fantastic experience! The smiling faces, positive energy, and excitement for skiing was truly exhilarating.

We are at the beginning stages of creating a year around program, and look forward to implementing fun fitness and recreational activities for persons with physical disabilities here in the Upper Peninsula.

This past winter was our trial run, to work out kinks in our system, and to see how everything will work. This summer has been fun working on program details and organizing events for this coming year.

Welcome!

Welcome to our page, and welcome to our events!

Here you can find updates on events, photos, and the progress of our program. We are located in beautiful Marquette County, where we enjoy about 4 months of winter. So please, come and ski! :)