Like it or not, if you live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or North Dakota, winters are typically long, cold, and white. This gives many of us more reason to get fired up, get outside, and take advantage of the winter activities Courage Center and Courage Duluth offer.

For more than 20 years, Courage Center has partnered with people with disabilities in accessing the beautiful slopes at Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area in Bloomington; Welch Village near Red Wing; Trollhaugen in Dresser, Wisconsin; Spirit Mountain in Duluth; and Buena Vista in Bemidji. From beginner hills, like Hyland in Bloomington, to the fantastic terrain of Spirit Mountain in Duluth, skiers with any physical disability or vision impairment can participate in downhill skiing all winter long.

Courage Duluth and Courage Center offer a variety of options where children as young as four and adults as young as 90 can learn to ski. The most user-friendly and sophisticated adaptive ski equipment is on-hand to try. Individualized lessons taught by trained volunteer instructors ensure that skiers have a fun and safe experience.

With adaptive equipment, Courage skiers and volunteer ski instructors hit the slopes early in the season and ski through mid-March at the five different ski areas. Last year more than 135 skiers and 225 volunteers enjoyed the slopes.

Courage ski instructors help determine the method of skiing that will make your downhill experience successful. (See the box detailing adaptive skiing techniques.) Volunteers are available, if needed, to assist you at the chairlift.

Join in the fun on the slopes this winter, as a student or a volunteer.

For more information, call the Courage Alpine Ski phone line at 763-520-0495. To find out more about skiing at Spirit Mountain, contact Eric Larson at 218-726-4762 or call Spirit Mountain directly at 218-624-8516.