Winter in Ellicottville: Penguin Paddle, Adaptive Ski Programs & a Community That Gives Back
Winter in Ellicottville: Penguin Paddle, Adaptive Ski Programs & a Community That Gives Back
From the Penguin Paddle at Holiday Valley to HoliMont’s 30th Anniversary of Phoenix Adaptive and a retro ski suit party for a cause, Ellicottville proves winter is about more than snow — it’s about neighbors helping neighbors.
There’s something about winter in Ellicottville that goes far beyond fresh powder and packed parking lots. Yes, we are blessed with world-class slopes at Holiday Valley and HoliMont. Yes, we are a ski town through and through. But if you look a little closer, past the lift lines and après crowds, you’ll see what truly defines us: community.
Last weekend’s Penguin Paddle was the perfect reminder.
If you’ve ever stood slopeside at Yodeler Lodge and watched a sea of “penguins” wobble to the start line, you know exactly what I mean. Helmets on. Oversized black garbage bags pulled over snowsuits. Children and grown adults willingly launching themselves belly-first down the slope in the name of charity. It’s ridiculous. It’s nostalgic. It’s absolutely wonderful.
The Penguin Paddle is the primary fundraiser for the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program (LASP), which provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy and freedom of skiing. What started years ago as a creative way to raise money has become one of the most anticipated and attended events of the season. Families plan for it. Teams train around it. Spectators line the hill with cowbells and cameras.
And while the belly-sliding spectacle is what grabs your attention, it’s the mission that keeps people coming back. The buffet lunch, the raffle, the silent auction stacked with local donations - every dollar raised helps ensure that adaptive skiers can get on the snow with the support and specialized instruction they need. It’s winter fun with a purpose.
Just up the road, HoliMont has been carrying that same spirit for three decades through its Phoenix Adaptive Ski Program. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this season, Phoenix continues to prove that skiing truly shouldn’t have limits. Under the leadership of Program Director David Berghash, the program has expanded to serve members, “drop-ins,” and even local community participants through its Outreach Program, offering free lessons to several local families on Sunday afternoons.
HoliMont’s commitment to adaptive skiing isn’t just lip service. Fundraisers like Men’s Day have raised significant funds for equipment and training, most notably helping secure a TetraSki, one of only a handful on the East Coast and the only one currently in New York. Last weekend’s anniversary celebration, featuring a live performance by XPRIME, was both a party and a powerful statement: This program matters.
When you see adaptive skiers carving turns, guided by highly trained instructors, you understand that these programs are about more than recreation. They’re about dignity, independence, inclusion, and families being able to share the mountain together.
The theme of rallying for a cause will continue this Saturday night, albeit in a slightly more neon-lit fashion.
Snowbelt Cannabis is hosting its Bad Ski Suit Party at Madigan's, combining retro ski town vibes with a winter clothing drive to benefit the Caring Closet at Ellicottville Central School and the Little Valley United Methodist Church. Think outrageous one-piece ski suits, bright colors, leg warmers… and a generous dose of heart.
It’s easy for outsiders to assume that because Ellicottville is a ski town, everyone here is thriving. But that’s simply not the case. Behind the boutiques and busy weekends are families quietly navigating rising heating bills, growing kids who outgrow coats mid-season, and real financial strain.
The Caring Closet was created at ECS to discreetly provide students with essential clothing so they can stay warm and participate fully in school life. The church in Little Valley distributes winter gear to families throughout the region who might otherwise go without. These are not abstract needs. They are local, and they are immediate.
And that’s what strikes me most about all three of these efforts - the Penguin Paddle, Phoenix Adaptive, and the Bad Ski Suit Party. They each look different. But at their core, they are the same. They are neighbors helping neighbors. Our ski town is a true testament that community isn’t just about shared lift tickets, but shared responsibility. We gather on the slopes. We gather at lodges. We gather downtown. And when we gather, we give.
That’s the real story of winter in Ellicottville. Not just the snowfall totals or the après scene, but the way this community consistently rallies around local causes, supports programs that change lives, and ensures that everyone, regardless of ability or circumstance, has a place here.
Whether you were cheering on penguins last weekend, celebrating 30 years of Phoenix, or are planning your neon outfit for Saturday night, you’re part of something bigger. And that’s worth sliding for.
