WAVES is dedicated to getting military veterans out on the ski slopes safely

KIMBERLY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Western Adaptive Veteran Education Snow Sports group, also known as WAVES, came out to Magic Mountain Ski Resort to test the limitations of those who served our country on the slopes.

“We saw a lack of support for veterans on the snow, especially veterans with a physical or mental challenge after coming back from deployment,” said founding member Tony Ortiz.

WAVES is an organization that empowers military veterans to get back into doing snow sports or learning how to do them.

“If they were already participating in snow sports before, they had an injury or physical challenge, we have all the special equipment we need if that’s what they want to do,” Ortiz said.

WAVES offers skiing, snowboarding and bike skiing. Their primary mission is to ensure veterans' safety with the help of a trained instructor.

“We’re members of the Professional Ski Instructors of America as an organization, again with the specialty,” Mulligan said. “We’ve gone a little above and beyond to get that adaptive certification and that enables us to help people with disabilities.”

John Mulligan is a military veteran and instructor with over 30 years of experience and training in snow sports. He said all veterans, especially those with disabilities, are invited to the organization’s event.

“We’re out here to help people; that’s what it’s all about,” Mulligan said. “We’re an all-volunteer group, no one is paid, and any funds raised goes right back into the program.”

For more information about WAVES and their upcoming events, click here.

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