I read with interest the information in your Jan. 5 issue about the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP).
Congratulations to Megan Lalonde for her article about the inspirational Olivia Rey. Onya Olivia—keep skiing!
I am one of the “surge of participants” mentioned in the latter half of the article; the “Zorro” crew of family and friends travelling from Australia and New Zealand for our fourth visit to Whistler so I could again participate as a sit-skier in the adaptive program.
Executive director Shelley Milstein stated that WASP was seriously challenged in many aspects of this 2022-23 season. I have to say that WASP has met, defied and so far defeated these challenges. I had some fabulous days skiing, including my 70th birthday, when three generations of our family, and our mates, had some of those beautiful long Whistler runs.
For a struggling system, I must congratulate all WASP personnel who performed their duties to the utmost, and sometimes beyond, with professional attitude, kindness, patience and generosity of time and spirit, attention to safe skiing on the mountain, confident in their knowledge of the sport and its often complex equipment. They are genuinely great people helping the less fortunate, like me, to have the time of their lives or their experience of a lifetime. Whistler mountain-man Wyllie Buchanan— you are a legend!
I hope many men and women would have read your article and undertaken some serious thought about giving some time to help the WASP organization. The friendships made, the knowledge gained and, of course, the chance to ski and experience other adventure sports and recreation make it a very interesting and often life-changing experience. There are opportunities available to ski with some intriguing, physically and/or mentally challenged, amazing and sometimes inspiring people who would be incredibly grateful for your help.
Please publish more articles about the WASP organization; many more of the general public are becoming interested in adaptive sports, the athletes and those behind them. Especially if an old bloke in a sit-ski is faster than they are on a big blue run.
