Instructors sought for Mountain Area Ski School | Sierra Star

The Mountain Area Ski School (M.A.S.S.) is currently seeking instructors for the upcoming season. M.A.S.S. is a volunteer program that provides basic instruction in skiing, snowboarding and cross-country/telemark skiing to local elementary school students.

“All our instructors are people like you who are skiers of one degree of ability or another,” said Mathew Casey, M.A.S.S. board member. “You need not be an expert to teach in our program - only better than those you are teaching.”

Anyone interested in becoming an instructor must attend an orientation meeting at 9 a.m., Friday, Dec. 5 at the Oakhurst Lutheran Church, 39255 Black Road off Crane Valley Road (426).

A skiing clinic will also be held to show new instructors how to teach and to refresh the minds of those who have taught before. The clinic will be held at 9 a.m., Friday, Dec. 19 at Badger Pass. Instructors are required to attend, and their teaching level will be established at this time. Everyone must meet at the Badger Pass lodge promptly at 9 a.m.

The program for students will begin on Friday, Jan. 9 and will continue through March 27 or earlier, depending on conditions. There will be approximately 12 days of instruction.

“Since it will cost us $70+ for insurance for each of you, we must have a commitment of at least 9 of these days from each of you to be sure we have enough instructors,” said Casey. “Keep in mind that your commitment is to the children. If you don’t show, we will have to reduce the number of students who can participate.”

For each day of instruction, instructors will be eligible for a free lift tickets at Badger Pass to be used before the next teaching day. However, tickets cannot be accumulated for the last week of skiing, they must be used during the time specified.

Apply online at m-a-s-s.org

Details: Calvin Lyster, (559) 683-5186, Tom Jones, (559) 683-0210, Matt Casey, (559) 658-8794, or Jon Peltier, (559) 760-3540.

M.A.S.S.