Salish Snow Sports Lifts Up the Next Generation of Skiers
[caption id align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Salish Snow Sports Program Coordinator Jamie Jaynes (right) shares her love of skiing with her sons, Ivan (center) and Syd (rear) Jaynes. Joining them is Gillian Amas (center left), whose boyfriend met Jaynes on the PT ski bus when they were kids, and they still love skiing together. Photo courtesy of Jaime Jaynes [/caption]
News by Nhatt Nichols
One of Jamie Jaynes’ most formative childhood experiences was taking the Port Townsend Ski Bus. “I started in sixth grade. I did it for six years; my parents didn't ski, and I had a friend whose dad was a chaperone and wanted us to be on the ski bus,” Jaynes said, “The most important part was I made lifelong friends there that I wouldn't have met any other way.”
Now Jaynes is ready to share that experience with the next generation of Jefferson County kids as the program coordinator of the nonprofit Salish Snow Sports. Unlike the Kiwanis-run program she attended in the 90s, Salish Snow Sports isn’t tied to the PT school district; its ski bus is open to students in Port Townsend, Chimacum, and Quilcene School Districts, as well as private and home-schooled children living in East Jefferson County.
[caption id align="alignnone" width="768"]
Rain Yara Carver poses during one of Jaynes’ original ski bus trips in the 90s. Photo Courtesy of Jaime Jaynes [/caption]
The program runs for six weekends during the peak winter months and includes professional instruction through the Stevens Pass Ski School, offering lessons for both beginners and experienced riders. Specialty clinics in park skiing/snowboarding and introductory race training will also be available for advanced students.
Although the program is designed to teach skiing skills, Jaynes emphasized that the entire experience also teaches important lessons off the slopes. “As a middle school to high school student, you develop resiliency because there's not just the challenge of learning how to be good at a sport. It's also hauling your gear, battling the elements, and making sure that you're warm,” Jaynes said. “It's a challenge to just do the thing you're there to do, but you also have to navigate this unpredictable factor, which is the weather, and you do it together as a team; you're on an adventure, you're learning something that's kind of clumsy and hard and hilarious at times, but also kind of scary.”
This team building is something Jaynes has carried with her into adulthood, and she still skis with the friends she made on the ski bus as a child; now her own children join her on those trips.
A Family-Friendly Approach: The “Family Bus” Option
Alongside offering the same experience Jaynes had as a child, Salish Snow Sports is also open to younger children and their families.
Designed primarily for parents of younger participants, the Family Bus option enables parents to travel with their children and be present throughout the day, ensuring a comfortable and nurturing experience both on the bus and at the mountain.
They chose this approach to ensure that each child has consistent support of someone familiar, creating a more comfortable and confidence-building experience.
Tuition That Reflects Family Needs
Participating in sports of any kind can be expensive, and skiing is often seen as a sport that’s inaccessible to low-income families. By offering a sliding scale, Salish Snow Sports aims to make the experience more affordable for children who would otherwise be unable to afford it.
“I think the cost of certain sports is a little out of reach for a lot of families,” Jaynes said. “We're trying to keep our costs down so that it's more affordable for different families.” They have a fundraising goal of $30,000 in order to provide support for at least half of the participating students. They are also hoping to use these funds to subsidize lessons and provide snacks and sack lunches.
Salish Snow Sports is hosting a Q&A session at Evergreen Fitness on Sunday, October 5, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
If you can’t make the Q&A but are interested in learning more, making a donation, or sponsoring a student, please visit salishsnowsports.com.
