Bigfork Ski Team makes sport more accessible

by Jordan Dawson
| November 16, 2011 3:22 PM

Winter is just around the corner, and

with winter comes snow and for many in the area, excitement about

ski season.

A newly formed group — the Bigfork Ski

Team — is working to give more people that warm, fuzzy feeling

about the cold months.

“We formed the Bigfork Ski Team because

we love to ski and want to ensure the legacy of skiing and that our

kids love it as much as we do,” said Hilary Shepard, one of the

founding members. “Skiing is a life long sport and any given day

you can see skiers from 2 to 82 at the mountain.”

The group has two main goals on right

now. The first is to help introduce the sports of skiing and

snowboarding to children whose families might otherwise not be able

to afford it.

“We are doing this because times are

tough and skiing is an expensive sport that I really enjoy and want

others’ kids to get the chance to try even if it isn’t in the

budget,” said Rusty Cash, another of Bigfork Ski Team’s founding

members.

The other goal was a spin-off of the

first goal when the group had a simple realization — Introducing

youth to skiing and snowboarding isn’t much good if they don’t have

a way to get to the mountain. Therefore the group is working on

establishing a ski bus to help provide transportation to the two

local mountains — Blacktail Mountain and Big Mountain — for

children whose parents don’t want to have to shuttle them, as well

as for skiers and snowboarders of all ages who would rather not

have to drive or who would like to save some money on gas.

“As with many sports skiing can be

expensive, but once you have the skill, some gear and a ride all

you need to decide is where to play,” Shepard said. “Skiing opens

up so many opportunities to spend good quality time with family and

friends.”

Bigfork Ski Team intends to provide

lessons, gear, lift tickets and transportation to interested

children. Kalispell Ski Club has offered to donate some group

lessons and the Bigfork group is working with Blacktail Ski Area

and Whitefish Mountain Resort to get rentals and lift ticket

packages.

As for reestablishing a ski bus, which

Bigfork had in the ’90s when Shepard attended Bigfork schools, the

tentative plan is to run two buses on Saturdays and Sundays — one

to Blacktail Mountain and one to Big Mountain. The buses would

leave the high school parking lot at 8:30 a .m. and return at 5:30

p.m. The buses are planned to run from Jan. 7 to April 7, which

equates to 14 Saturdays and 13 Sundays. If there is enough interest

the group may try to get a few night skiing trips in as well.

The ski busses are not only being set

up for convenience, but also as a way to save money. A season bus

pass is set to cost about $75. Or riders can pay $8 per trip

without a pass. Although the bus is going to be open for everyone,

there will be some restrictions for kids under 12.

The Bigfork Ski Team is able to receive

tax deductible donations from community members and businesses

since being adopted by the Community Foundation for a Better

Bigfork, which is an established 501(c)(3).

The group is kicking off its

fundraising efforts with a ski movie titled “One for the Road” from

Teton Gravity Research on Friday, Nov. 25 at Brookies Cookies in

downtown Bigfork. Tickets are $15 and available at The White Room

in Whitefish, Rocky Mountain Outfitters in Kalispell and The Jug

Tree in Bigfork. Tickets include a beverage and raffle ticket.

There will also be fresh baked Brookies Cookies treats available

for sale. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the movie will start at 8 p.m.

There will also be a pre- and post-party at the Garden Bar.

About the movie

Teton Gravity Research is a group of

award-winning producers based out of Teton Village, Wyo. Their

newest film “One for the Road” was shot on location in Jackson

Hole, Wyo., Hokkaido, Japan, Iceland, the Balkan??s Macedonia and

Montenegro, Baldface Lodge and Pemberton in Canada and Juneau,

Alaska.

The film follows some of the world’s

most progressive snow sports athletes to capture their high-level

riding, as well as document their lives on the road.

Athletes featured in the film include;

Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Ian McIntosh, Griffin Post, Todd Ligare,

Chris Benchetler, Dylan Hood, Dash Longe, Daron Rahlves, Sven

Kuenle, Rachael Burks, Callum Pettit, Erik Roner, Grete Eliassen,

Shroder Baker, Byron Wells, Andreas Hatveit, Rory Bushfield, Nick

Martini, Tom Wallisch, Ddsana Flahr, Mike Riddle and Josh

Dirksen.

For more information on “One for the

Road” or about Teton Gravity Research, visit