Sharing with Today’s Youth
Ober Gatlinburg’s Ski & Snowboard School is on a mission to share the love for Skiing and Snowboarding with today’s youth. By reaching out to Middle Schools in the surrounding counties, we hope to introduce these snow sports and get the students involved with the Ski Club at their school.
Joseph Ventimiglia, the Ski & Snowboard School Director, reached out to Principal Phillip Cox at Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge a few months ago regarding their Ski Club. Immediately after hearing Joseph’s proposal to speak to the students about getting involved, Principal Cox was anxious to get these presentations moving!
On November 7th and 8th, Joseph, Tom Royther (Ski Instructor) and Toni Blough (Ski & Snowboard Instructor) collaborated on the presentation by splitting up into three separate sessions during each P.E. Class Period.
- Station 1: Informational
- Joseph discussed with the students regarding the safety aspects of the snow sports.
- Station 2: Fun Activity
- Tom had the students play a game called “Crab Soccer.” This taught the students not to cross up their limbs as well as lower body separation.
- Station 3: Informal yet Fun
- Toni had the students in a circle, discussing with them different ways to get around on their snowboards. She had them pass a soccer ball around the circle to each other using only their feet.
- Grasping it in between their ankles and either “penguin walking” or hopping to give it to the person next to them.
- Toni had the students in a circle, discussing with them different ways to get around on their snowboards. She had them pass a soccer ball around the circle to each other using only their feet.
The presentation was such a delight to, not only the students, but the faculty as well! Interest regarding the special guests’ class spread throughout the school and by the next presentation day, the students had an idea as to what they were going to be doing. Many students were interested in the idea of joining their school’s Ski Club afterwards and there were many students asking questions about the process.
Ober Gatlinburg believes that the introduction to such a sport with today’s youth will create awareness in future skiers and snowboarders. These presentations will not only help to educate children, but also, we hope to inspire them by getting them outside and having fun during winter. Nowadays, children stay cooped up inside when its cold out or even when it’s not. Our mission at Ober Gatlinburg is to get these children unplugged from their devices and get back out into nature.
