Executive Director Elizabeth Jahp: The WAS Potential

“Right…left…right…left,” cheered Cole, age three and Alex, his instructor, as they swung their arms in unison, linking turns down Chickadee. What may have appeared as a choreographed and much-needed snow dance from the chairlift was, in fact, Cole learning to initiate his first-ever turns in the bi-ski.

Cole making turns down Chickadee

This past weekend, three new students from the Salt Lake Valley felt the freedom of skiing for the first time. Their parents, either skiing alongside them or waiting for them at the bottom of the beginner lift, beamed with emotion as their children learned how to make their first turns. When pausing between runs, their kids tossed snowballs, swept aside three inches of fresh snow in the shape of a five-year-old snow angel, and most importantly, had fun. When I inquired about their first-ever ski experience, each parent enthusiastically shared their own version of the potential they saw for their child in adaptive sports – a family activity, a lifelong means to stay active or a way to improve physical strength.

Potential.

At the heart of our mission, be it today or five years down the road, is potential. We see it in our students, their family members, in our donors and in our ability as an organization to provide the resources that encourage active living and independence. Peter Mandler set forth with this very vision. For 40 years and counting, Peter has been guided by an unwavering commitment to provide every student with the tools to maximize their independence. It is with great honor that I step into Peter’s larger-than-life ski boots as Executive Director.

Elizabeth with WAS student Dustin

I am a Chicago-native who was lucky enough to find my way to Utah thanks to my five siblings and both parents who all graduated from the University of Utah. I am the so-called “blue sheep” of the family as I sought to quench a thirst for education and adventure in the Bay Area. Go Bears! After spending two years working for a nonprofit and learning Spanish in South America, I found my home in the mountains, began working at Snowbird, and never left. A story not uncommon here in Little Cottonwood Canyon. For me, recreation is a way to harmonize body, mind and environment. I am deeply passionate about helping others find what ignites their appetite for movement.

The advent of the New Year brings us back to our discussion of potential. Wasatch Adaptive Sports strives to create independence in recreation. We teach the skills and fundamentals that empower independence in each of our twelve programs; this focus will always remain the core of the Wasatch Adaptive Sports mission. We began this year by asking the staff and board, “How do we afford greater access to independence for our students? How can recreation become a family activity or a lifelong means to stay active?” We identified limited access to equipment as a primary obstacle to our students realizing their potential. As a result, we plan to implement a robust equipment rental program and launch new group sessions that enable the application and repetition of learned skills. We are also in the early stages of exploring ways to make our organization and these new programs more accessible to residents along the Wasatch Front… stay tuned! Revitalizing a collaborative approach to our relationships with healthcare providers and other nonprofits in our local adaptive community is also a top priority. With over 250,000 people with disabilities in Utah reporting they get insufficient exercise, WAS is eager to be a part of the solution and we cannot do it alone.

To our donors, we extend our sincerest thanks, especially to those of you who helped us celebrate the close of 2017 with a cumulative gift that exceeded $40,000. We are humbled by the generosity of each of you who give throughout the year. To our staff, board members, and volunteers, we exist because of you. 2018 has the potential to be an incredible year for WAS and for everyone involved in our programs. See you in the mountains and on the trails!

Please send any feedback and questions any time to elizabeth@wasatchadaptivesports.org.