Meet Finn Murphy of Ignite Adaptive Sports in Eldora

Today we’d like to introduce you to Finn Murphy.

Finn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ignite Adaptive Sports began at Eldora Mountain resort in 1974 with a mission to provide snowsport opportunities to people with disabilities. I began at Ignite in 2009 as a volunteer instructor having recently moved to Colorado from the East Coast. I was looking for a volunteer opportunity where I could meet new people and do some good. I received extensive Ignite training and supplemented that with snowsport instruction courses from the Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) and earned both Levels I Alpine Instructor and Level I Adaptive Instructor certifications.

I was subsequently tapped as Executive Director for the entire program and held that position for several years before stepping down and taking the position as Program Director which allowed me more time to spend with students and volunteers. My current status is as Day Supervisor which relieves me of most administrative work and keeps me on the mountain with students.

My tenure in leadership roles at Ignite left some important milestones the highlights being that both the Program Director and Program Director positions are now full-time paid positions and my everlasting legacy will be assisting in the establishment of a permanent building at Eldora which will take care of our students’ needs for the foreseeable future. It’s very easy for me to say that my involvement with Ignite has been the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

Has it been a smooth road?
The most difficult period for me at Ignite was when our host mountain evicted us in 2013 without cause. As Executive Director, I organized a public protest with a march in downtown Boulder which was covered by all the local news and TV media and resulted in our host mountain asking us to return, so the end result was satisfactory but the stress involved was immense.

Other than that, organizing and motivating an all-volunteer army of over 260 individuals has its’ moments but it’s all worth it when you see the smiles on the faces of students and families who never thought they could accomplish their goals while living with various disabilities.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ignite Adaptive Sports – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
What sets Ignite Adaptive Sports apart is that we run one of the country’s largest adaptive snowsport schools with an entirely volunteer force. While a small number of senior staff are paid, all instructors, administrators, equipment technicians, and backup help give their time freely. This is over 260 people I’m talking about and this gives us the opportunity to offer our services at an affordable rate. It also allows Ignite to offer snowsport lessons free of charge where applicable so anyone who wants our program can use it.

Ignite is also known for cutting edge technologies and rigorous training of our volunteers. We are an industry leader in best practices from the use of equipment, invention of new equipment, safety protocols, and training. Ignite does product testing for adaptive equipment manufacturers worldwide. Ignite also distributes our in-house adaptive school computer management program which streamlines operations for adaptive schools internationally.

Another thing that sets Ignite apart from our sister adaptive schools is our state-of-the-art equipment facility. While most adaptive schools have an arrangement with local ski shops, we have everything in house with factory certified technicians so our students can be fitted with the proper equipment on-site.

While Ignite is capable of handling people living with virtually any disability, our client base is almost exclusively local. Many other adaptive programs work with folks visiting Colorado from anywhere which is nice, but our location at Eldora keeps our program and our clients local. We are currently running four programs with the Denver VA hospital and have programs with any number of groups from the Boulder and St. Vrain School Districts, to The Brain Injury Alliance, the Autism Society of Boulder County, the Colorado Center for the Blind, local adult daycare facilities, Craig Hospital, etc.

The thing that makes me most proud of Ignite is that we can do all this with volunteers. The second thing is our relationship with the Denver VA, where we work with almost 100 wounded armed service veterans each year. How Ignite manages to be one of the largest programs in the USA, and lead the industry in training and equipment, is a miracle made possible by our volunteers.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The thing I like best about the Front Range is the people. Ignite has never had any problem getting and keeping over 260 volunteers to run our program and well, volunteering at Ignite is not easy. It takes a tremendous amount of time to be trained and then we need folks all winter on very long days with a population who have challenges by definition.

What I like least is the overbuilding of homes on previously agricultural land.

Contact Info:

• Website: igniteadaptivesports.org
• Phone: 303-258-1166
• Email: director@igniteadaptivesports.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igniteadaptivesports/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igniteadaptivesports/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/igniteadaptive

Image Credit:
Kevin Snyder Photography

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