Shirley Cummings explains how "S2 Skiers2" began at Hyak Ski Area in the PNWD and its amazing efforts between various ski resorts in helping those needing a bit more assistance in learning how to ski. Pioneering well before the ADA was established. Note: Recorded at a previous convention, please disregard background noises. (2023)
The PNWD History Project: Shirley Cummings, the official history project coordinator, (& all around fabulous lady), has been on a mission: Collect and assemble an archive of stories and pictures from the different ski patrols within the Pacific Northwest Division. Hence, Patroller Chats was born!
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Episode Transcript
for academically handicapped people.
It was the first ski school inthe United States for any kind
of if you had any kind ofhandicap Any like adaptive in
world.
Where did that adaptive schoolwas that?
At Hayek.
It was at Hayek.
However, we had people fromWhite Pass, snoqualmie, summit,
(01:22):
central Crystal.
Where else did they come from?
I think there were six patrolswho sent on Wednesdays and the
area gave us a free ticket foreach one of us, and so we had a
patroller instructor with achild, and the children came
(01:43):
from Pacific School in Seattle.
So they had a mental age oflike, oh, seven to maybe 15.
Chronological age was up to 35.
And Earl Papick got a NationalGuard bus that would give them
free transportation.
(02:04):
We were able, between all thepeople who were volunteering
their time, to instruct.
We got enough equipment tooutfit all these kids, so they
came up every Wednesday for Idon't know several years and we
have one.
I remember I had Charlene, whomust have weighed 400 pounds on
(02:26):
the rope tow and she sat down onme.
Oh no, oh God, I think SteveNancy Hastings was there.
Steve Hastings was just a kidand he came by a couple of times
, I think, when we were there,but sometimes the kids came if
(02:48):
they were out of school, but itwas wonderful.
So, anyway, we did that untilthe area was, I think, sold one
of the bankruptcies.
But who did you do that withyou?
And who started?
Well, no, there were a wholechoice Joyce Hill, joyce Hill
and you from high high, yeah,hiac, yeah, and what was it
called?
Skiers 2, s2, and the pin thatthe burglars stole from me, but
(03:39):
it was an S with a 2.
I think it's on my jacket inthere.
And so our division directorhand-carried this proposal to
the national board, asking forus to be recognized.
Now, if that happened, wedidn't know.
We didn't know if it did.
Kurt Beam was the divisiondirector Okay, I've heard that
(04:03):
name and he said it wasn't a skipatrol function, so he didn't
think that it should probablyget auspices, but nevertheless,
it was the first ski school inthe whole United States that
helped handicapped people.
Wow, that is awesome.
(04:23):
Yeah, it's all over the placenow.
Yeah, it's good.
And I talked to Deb Armstrong'smother, who died recently, but
that's the other thing I wantedto tell you about history.
Her mother had the whatever thething is.
(04:43):
The museum, oh, the ski museumup in Suquamish, the ski museum
and Dave Moffitt, and DaveMoffitt.
Anyway, I said to her, holly,you know ski instructors, skiers
, racers, everybody in thismuseum, you've got it big, but
(05:05):
there's nothing about ski patrol.
And I said, would that bepossible for us to have a
section, a corner?
And we were getting some goodtalks.
Anyway, she died, so I never didfinalize this thing, but she
did say that it would have to beprofessionally done.
(05:29):
The artwork would have to beprofessional, the photographs.
You couldn't just take a coupleof photographs that you had,
because they've gone out oftheir way to make this museum.
You know kind of quality,museum quality.
Anyway, that's something that Ithink the Ski Patrol should
pursue, and I haven't been ableto find out if Oregon or Idaho
(05:53):
has any kind of a museum.
So there is Mount Hood atGovernment Camp, so the museum
there does have an area on skipatrol.
Good, well then we're at leastsomewhat represented, somewhat.
So who's now running the skimuseum?
Dave Moffitt, oh, so he'srunning it.
(06:16):
Well, I don't know.
I mean, I think he's the onethat sends out requests for
donations.
So I assume that he is stillrunning it.
I don't know.
Thank you, shirley, thank you.
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