A Season to Remember: Snow, Growth, and Stories That Matter

As the snow has almost completely melted and tow ropes have stopped spinning, I have been looking back on everything that happened with JSAW this winter. It is hard to sum it all up, but this season felt special.

The snow season isn’t just about the riding, it’s about the people, the moments, and the community that kept growing all winter long.

Week after week, riders showed up at all different levels. Some having only just started skiing or snowboarding and are attending their first JSAW event, others have been coming to events for years. No matter where they are at, we are excited for each and every rider that joins us.

And it added up. Over the course of the season, we had the chance to connect with 718 people through our snow program.

One of the coolest things to watch was how quickly things started to click. We kicked our season off with a couple preseason rail jams, including our own, as well as attending industry events and movie premieres. 

We got fully in the swing of the season hosting cocoa and wax events at Hyland Hills and Elm Creek. Twelve volunteers served 48 riders between the two hills by waxing skis and snowboards, pouring hot cocoa, and connecting with riders. They invited people into the community, prayed with them, and encouraged them to check out our weekly Bible studies. It was amazing to see several of those riders become regulars throughout the season.

We’ve had some amazing opportunities this winter. We got to put on a rail jam at Hyland Hills, take a group out to Big Sky for some amazing riding, and Loken filmed for pros! I would highly encourage you to check those out if you haven’t already!

All of these events are on top of our weekly Bible studies which averaged an incredible 76 riders per month! We launched a new Bible study this year at Afton Alps, along with our existing small groups at Hyland Hills and Elm Creek and had all our meeting spaces overflowing with people hungry for the Word! We saw 5 riders give their life to Jesus this season!

None of this happens without the people behind it. Small group Bible studies and events can’t happen without volunteers and the donors supporting us. Our snow program only exists because people believe in it and show up. And I am so grateful for all of you!

We are already looking forward to next season. There are more riders to reach, more events to be part of, and more stories waiting to happen.

If you believe in what JSAW is doing and want to help make next season possible, we invite you to be part of it by donating. Your support directly creates opportunities to reach riders on the hill and experience the kind of community that is transforming the culture.