Adaptive snowsport program continues to grow at Whitehorse's Mount Sima

Tijana McCarthy moved gingerly on her snowboard.

She was nervous — and rightfully so. It was her first time trying out the sport.

McCarthy's day at Whitehorse's Mount Sima was possible thanks to the ski hill's adaptive snowsport program. Now in its third year, the program provides lessons to neurodiverse individuals or those living with a physical or visual impairment.

"It's been growing slowly every year," said Seth Brown, one of the programs's facilitators. "This is our biggest year yet." 

That's thanks to some new equipment, and four new instructors for the program this year.

One of those instructors, Paul van Aanhout, relayed words of encouragement to McCarthy as she moved along on her snowboard.

McCarthy replied with a smile and giggle.

"This is my skateboard," she said.

Van Aanhout called it a "huge privilege to have a place like this for the community of Whitehorse."

"It's just something that I really, really enjoy," he said.

Levi Webb, another ski instructor in his first season with the adaptive program, says he was inspired to get involved after seeing how much enjoyment van Aanhout was getting from it.

"It's just fun and includes more members of the community," said Webb. "I love it here. It's actually just this tiny little non-profit and it's probably the best ski hill I've ever worked at.

"We have a lot of liberty to move forward with adaptive program coordination."

One of the groups taking advantage of the program is Teegatha'Oh Zheh. This is the first year they've come to Mount Sima to try it out.

For three decades, the organization has been dedicated to promoting community inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Amber Secerbegovic is a support worker there and she's also been a skier, "since I could walk, pretty much."

It was Secerbegovic's idea to bring McCarthy to the hill to try out the program. She even got her coaching certification so that she could help teach.

"I really feel getting them out in the community and active is really huge," said Secerbegovic. "We have a really fantastic art program, but people are sitting a lot. For me to be able to support them getting out on the hill, that's just an extra bonus."

Judging by the smile on McCarthy's face, she seemed to agree. While she said she wasn't yet ready for the chairlift, she was still having fun.

"It's pretty cool, I'm working hard," McCarthy said.

Another Teegatha'Oh Zheh client, Stefan Oettli, was also at the hill that day strapping on the skis for the first time in a decade.

Soccer is more his sport, which he regularly plays with Special Olympics Yukon.

Like McCarthy, he was all smiles as he made his way down the bunny hill at Sima, under the watchful eye of Secerbegovic.

Also looking on was Oettli's older brother, Sam Oettli, the general manager at Mount Sima.

"There's obviously a very personal spot for me with my brother being able to get back on skis," said Sam. "It's so heartwarming to see him up here and enjoying the snow again — and that's the really rewarding part about this."

Sam said he hopes to keep growing the adaptive snowsport program into the future at Sima.

"That's the point of this place," Sam said. "It's all about making it as accessible as we possibly can, for the small little awesome mountain that we are."