The non-profit was formed in 2011 to give individuals with cognitive and/or physical disabilities the opportunity to experience adaptive winter snow sports.

Bud and Denise Delano of Iron Mountain, longtime Pine Mountain Alpine Ski and Snowboard School managers, felt the need to expand its community services.

The couple saw that adaptive skiing was not covered locally. “There was a whole group of people out there that couldn’t participate,” said Denise Delano, adding she and her husband are passionate about the skiing culture and what it brings to people.

“The camaraderie, the enjoyment, the fresh air, all of it — everyone should have a chance to enjoy it,” she said.

MOVING MOUNTAINS ADAPTIVE Program instructors work with a new student in a bi-ski on the slopes of Pine Mountain earlier this year. (Contributed photo)

In the summer of 2010, the couple was introduced to Dr. David Curland, a physician at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center and member of the Norway Mountain Ski Patrol at the time. He, too, was interested in an adaptive program and talks began.

“It really was just an idea. None of us had any experience with it, we just felt it was an important thing to do,” Denise Delano said.

By the following March, Professional Ski Instructors of America — PSIA — came to Pine Mountain to ski with them and assess the facility.

They evaluated everything from how a student would get from the parking lot to the building, where they would be fitted for gear, how easy it was to get onto the snow, restroom accessibility, ramp heights, the chair lifts and more.

PSIA officials were impressed with the facility, which required minimal changes, and encouraged them to move forward.

MOVING MOUNTAINS ADAPTIVE Program instructors work with a stand-up skier using a pole on the slopes of Pine Mountain earlier this year. (Contributed photo)

With the backing of Pine Mountain Resort, the group made the decision to become a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Although the resort has changed ownership over the years, each has continued to be very supportive of the program, they said.

Not only does Pine Mountain offer the facility as their home base, they provide free tickets for each student and passes for instructors.

“That’s a huge cost we don’t have to cover,” Delano said. “They recognize the importance of what we do and what it provides to the community.”

The first year, MMAP raised about $10,000, which was enough money to purchase two bi-skis, one for adults and one for youths. They gave six lessons to two students that year.

MOVING MOUNTAINS ADAPTIVE Program instructors work with a stand-up skier using a tether on the slopes of Pine Mountain earlier this year. (Contributed photo)

The next two seasons, they gained a couple more students, doubling their lessons.

They continued to see new clients each season, and by 2020 averaged 60 lessons.

Over the past five years, numbers have increased steadily and were on track for about 140 lessons this year, depending on hill conditions the next couple of weeks.

“This is around 60-plus students, as most are skiing two or three times,” Denise Delano said.

As the demand grew and the non-profit became more stable financially, they were able to purchase additional pieces of ski equipment.

MOVING MOUNTAINS ADAPTIVE Program presented medals to their new skiing students this year. (Contributed photo)

MMAP now has 14 units, three sliders and various handheld outriggers to aid in balance and support.

Bud Delano noted the new bi-ski units have a lift assist, which makes it easier for the skier and instructors. “That’s been a game changer,” he said.

But advancements in the equipment come at a cost. “Our first two pieces of equipment totalled what one bi-ski does now,” she said. They plan to add a new unit this summer that will include interchangeable seats.

In the early years, MMAP had only bi-skiers and monoskiers, no stand-up skiers. “Now, that is more than 50 percent of the clients that ski with them,” said Denise Delano, adding the skill required different training and equipment.

Although MMAP doesn’t have any age requirements, they recommend children be at least 5 years old if they are going to be in a bi-ski and age 7 for a stand-up skier.

“If we make it to the last weekend of March, they will have their oldest skier that is in his 70s,” Denise Delano said. “He is a lifelong skier who developed some cognitive issues and now needs a ski buddy.”

They noted their first student who took lessons 14 years ago is still with the group.

From day one, their first priority has been safety of the students and instructors. “We aren’t going to get bigger than we should,” Bud Delano said.

The group has held to that policy as a controlled growth strategy for 14 years, with the goal of never having an incident on the hill.

He explained that instructors spend time with each client, getting to know their disabilities before they hit the hill. They then move on to fitting each student with the correct equipment, as there are several disciplines — stand-up skiing includes two-track, three-track and four-track, and sit skiing includes bi-ski and mono-ski.

“You also have to find where their learning style is the strongest and adapt to that,” he said.

“A person needs to know they are safe before learning can start,” Denise Delano added. “When they feel safe, they can have fun.”

The majority of clients are tethered to an instructor, the Delanos noted.

They had a skier who started out in a bi-ski and recently transitioned to a stand-up skier without a tether.

“He and his family were committed to him doing what was necessary through physical therapy in the off season and built his strength,” Denise Delano said. “It’s really pretty cool to see him out skiing with his family.”

An MMAP instructor’s goal is to get each individual to their personal highest level of independence.

“It’s going to be different for everyone,” Bud Delano added. “It’s about setting a target, giving them direction and coaching them through it.”

Bud Delano said not only does it affect them physically but mentally and spiritually.

They said many times parents are convinced the lesson isn’t going to happen before they even get on their gear.

“By the time their lessons are done, these kids are smiling ear to ear and can’t stop talking about it,” said Denise Delano. “This is the reason we do what we do.”

A past student, Dorothy Paad, published a book, “Dorothy is Moving Mountains,” that recounts her experience learning how to downhill ski with cerebral palsy and how it gave her a confidence boost.

“It is what it can bring to people,” Denise Delano said.

MMAP currently has 25 qualified trained instructors who teach various disciplines. They explained how important it is to have those numbers, as it takes three or four people to get clients prepared to ski, then two instructors accompany each student on the hill.

Instructors attend clinics annually, from techniques to equipment, to update their knowledge.

“We have managed to attract the most amazing group of volunteers,” Denise Delano said.

They are always looking for more. “You don’t have to be a great skier, you don’t have to be a good skier, you don’t even have to ski — we can teach you that,” she said. “Our slogan is, ‘You bring the heart and we can provide everything else.”

New this year, MMAP presented medals to each of their students with the words “Smiles on Snow,” and “Together We Are Moving Mountains.”

“The smiles — that’s what we are all about,” she said.

“Each student becomes a favorite for different reasons,” Denise Delano added. “Everyone is so unique and they experience it in different ways.”

MMAP has also become members of Move United, which provides additional resources to adaptive programs.

“It’s been a big 12 months for us,” Denise Delano said.

The non-profit is a year-round undertaking, with plans already being made for next ski season.

“We are always looking for things to make it better, not necessarily bigger,” she said.

MMAP is able to provide the service to clients free of charge because of its individual donation, grants and other fundraisers throughout the year.

Moving Mountains’ major fundraiser is a four-person golf scramble every summer at Timberstone Golf Course in Iron Mountain. The 14th-annual Moving Mountains Adaptive Program Golf Outing will be Thursday, July 31.

Last fall, they worked with the Dickinson Area Community Foundation to build an endowment fund.

“We are so grateful for all the support from the community, local businesses and organizations; the Dickinson Area Community Foundation; staff; and Pine Mountain that has made this program a success,” Denise Delano said.

“We work with an amazing group of students and families, seeing the enjoyment they receive is our reward,” she added.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program or in making a donation can go to the MMAP website at https://www.movingmountainsap.org.