Cover photo courtesy of David Zalewski
For the second year in a row, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort is partnering with three local elementary schools to offer fourth- and fifth-grade students the chance to learn to ski or snowboard. The program, Corey’s Run FIRST TRACKS Ski Academy, was established by David Zalewski, father to Corey, who passed away after being caught in an avalanche in the Idaho Panhandle backcountry in January 2024.
Around the first anniversary of Corey’s passing, Zalewski had an idea. “I was thinking of some way to honor Corey’s legacy and the things he enjoyed in life,” he says. What Corey loved most was being outdoors. Zalewski remembers the year Corey received his first season pass to Snoqualmie—a winter that brought little snow. Undeterred, Corey convinced his father to drive him to the mountain anyway. For hours, Corey hiked up the hillside, snowboard in hand, just to make that thrilling ride downhill. He carried that insatiable spirit throughout his life, jumping into everything with “both feet,” Zalewski recalls.
Through Corey’s FIRST TRACKS, students who might not otherwise have the opportunity spend three consecutive Fridays at 49 Degrees North. They leave school shortly after lunch and spend the afternoon on the mountain, with lift tickets, lessons and rentals provided at no cost. The program is designed for beginner skiers and snowboarders, allowing students to build confidence over several weeks rather than through a single-day experience. The resort even keeps the lifts running an extra half hour for participants.
Henry Holub, one of the instructors involved, says the program’s goals are multifaceted. The first is to honor Corey’s legacy by passing along his love of the outdoors. The second is to create lifelong skiers and snowboarders. Many participating families lack the resources to take their children skiing, with cost and transportation presenting the greatest barriers. Programs like Corey’s FIRST TRACKS offer more than a lesson—they provide an entry into a way of life.
Holub, who also works as a substitute teacher in Spokane and serves as a PTO president at one of the participating schools, has seen the program’s effects extend beyond the slopes. Students ask if they will be able to ski again, and many families report returning to the mountain together after the program ends. School staff have also noted increased confidence and stronger peer connections, describing the experience as a powerful team-building opportunity.
Ali Pasino, 49 Degrees North’s snowsports school director, believes outdoor recreation fosters freedom and self-reliance, particularly for youth from more urban environments. With more than twenty years of experience guiding and coaching, Pasino has seen how challenging outdoor settings can transform young people. “If you can conquer a mountain,” Pasino says, “you can conquer anything.” She believes the natural world teaches resilience in ways few other environments can. “The world convinces us in countless ways that we can’t do things. I relish every time someone learns that they can succeed.”
Zalewski, Holub and Pasino hope to see the program continue to grow. Last year, 44 students participated. With the addition of a third elementary school, that number could exceed one hundred. While Zalewski privately funds student lessons, transportation remains a challenge. Community members can help by supporting transportation costs or providing snacks for students on their way home. Holub also hopes participants will continue into opportunities such as the mountain’s Junior Instructor Program.
As Corey’s skills grew, backcountry skiing became his true passion, Zalewski recalls about his son. “Any day with snow was a good day.” For Zalewski, it’s more than holding onto Corey’s legacy. “It’s about giving young people, young kids, the opportunity to experience all the beauty and adventure of being on the mountain. Being able to encounter and share in the wonders of god’s creativity, his creation. There was no place Corey would rather be than floating downhill on freshly fallen champagne powder snow making those FIRST TRACKS of the day.” Corey wouldn’t have it any other way.
