Snowboarding for Christ

Published by Forum Communications' Echo Press on Jan 16, 2023

Andes Tower Hills hosts a six-week snowboard program every Saturday with the goal to teach beginners the fundamentals, help more experienced riders hone their skills, and be a positive influence not just for those involved but everyone on the hill.

The program is called Foundation 725 — a youth snowboard program rooted in Christ for ages 6 to 18 with experience levels from beginner to advanced.

It teaches riders everything from the basics like balance and stopping to riding rails and landing jumps with spins and grabs — "Whatever the kids want to learn," said the program's Director, Gary Anderson, 51, of Alexandria.

The students get broken up into groups by experience level. Those with little to no experience will start off on the easier hills while those with more experience will hit the more difficult Black Diamonds and the Terrain Park — where more trick-oriented riders can practice.

Anderson added that those who are just starting off will maybe spend a day or two on the Bunny Hill — the easiest hill at Andes — but by the end of the program, they will be comfortable being on their own, cruising down the bigger hills.

The program runs from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday for six weeks. The first class of 2023 was Saturday, Jan. 14. Anderson started the day with a brief into what the program offers, then into a devotional before stretching and hitting the slopes.

It was founded in 2003 by Anderson who says Foundation 725 is a "mentor-ship program disguised as a snowboard program."

The idea came to Anderson in 2002 after watching some of the riders for the Jefferson High School snowboard team — which only lasted one year. He'd been coaching riders on and off since the mid-90s and noticed some of the school's riders were in need of foundation skills. Hence the name "Foundation."

He started Foundation 725 after the school's team "fizzled out." The first year saw 13 students enter the program and by the following year, attendance had nearly doubled. This trend continued on until at one point there were 90 participants in the program. Today there are 17.

Anderson said that's been the norm for the last few years — averaging anywhere from 20 to 30 students. Anderson attributes the decline to those who are more interested in other winter sports like basketball. He explained that the popularity of snowboarding "comes in waves."

All in all — not counting those who came back from previous years — Anderson says he has had 150 to 200 participants come through the program.

Those in the program today want to learn to snowboard and Anderson, along with five to eight other coaches — some who started in the program as students — want to use that thirst to be on the board to be a role model and spread a positive message.

"They want to learn all the coolest tricks," said Anderson. "I am in it because I want to make an impact on these kids' lives. I am Christian and I just thought well, if I can give them something from the Bible each week, I can encourage them."

Anderson explained that the "725" in the program's name was inspired by the Bible verse in Mathew 7:25, "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."

Anderson opens each Saturday session with a Biblical devotional.

"We are giving the kids a foundation, snowboard-wise, but hopefully, also spiritually for the future," Anderson said.

Anderson said in the early days of snowboarding, the scene was considered rough and rowdy as it attracted the "punk" type of kids who were rough around the edges.

"It's still a little bit like that to this day... We don't need to be the rough crowd, we can be the light on the hill — the positive people," said Anderson. "It's just trying to change that mindset. Work with a group of kids, get them out on the hill to make a difference to all the other kids out there."

Anderson says his favorite thing about the program is seeing the students years later, after they are out of the program. He says he often hears how the foundation had an impact on their lives. Whether they say they are going to church, learned to be a better person, or care more for the environment, it always puts a smile on Anderson's face.

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Foundation 725 Coach, Cade Lybeck, 16, of Alexandria, performs a nose grab at the bottom of the Andes Tower Hills Terrain Park. Thalen Zimmerman / Alexandria Echo Press

Cole Sorenson, 20, of Alexandria, started in the program when he was in second grade. Today he's a coach. He said he first joined because he thought those in foundation were the "coolest cats on the hill" and he didn't have anyone to teach him.

"When I was that age, having people to look up to that were cool when the park is so big and scary, I think it is just like massive — having cool role models that are relatable," said Sorenson. "I can't say enough good things about the foundation."

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Foundation 725 Coach, Cole Sorenson, left, 20, of Alexandria and Jakoby Ziesmer, 12, of Glenwood, are all smiles after a few runs down the terrain park at Andes Tower Hills.Thalen Zimmerman / Alexandria Echo Press

Sorenson says now that he is in the position of coach, he hopes he can make everyone he comes into contact with have a happy time on the hill and encourage them to express themselves.

In Anderson's opening devotional for the first Foundation 725 session of the year, he referenced the part of the Bible where Jesus talked about good people being the salt of the Earth, Matthew 5:13. Anderson talked about the benefits of salt. That it makes food taste good but it also heals and soothes like when you take a bath with Epsom salt and that it preserves things.

Anderson says to be the salt of the Earth is to preserve the word of God like shaking salt onto others. To make life "taste" better by encouraging others and to make their days brighter by seasoning them with kindness. And to heal others through prayer.

"(The salt shaker) is only good if we let the salt out. We can be the salt but we are not doing any bit of good unless we are sprinkling the salt somewhere," said Anderson. "Be salt out there on the hill. Preserve, heal, encourage."