Avid snowboarder and instructor Ashley Amato understands the misconception many people have about snowboarding — you’ll fall down and break something.

However, she thought the sport would be perfect for people with special needs, particularly the Special Olympics. Snowboarding allows people to use their mind, eyes and feet.

“I’ve always been involved with Special Olympics because my brother is on the ski team. One day, during last season, I was instructing a school group at Blue Mountain Ski Resort and thought why not,” she said.

Amato reached out to different snowboarding instructors within the local counties to make a Special Olympics Snowboarding team, and her efforts were successful. To be recognized as an official Special Olympics sport, 10 percent of the state must participate.

The program has obtained that percentage, with the majority of the athletes come from Carbon County.

Because the program met all the criteria, it is officially known as Pennsylvania Special Olympics Snowboarding team.

Amato serves as the co-director.

Currently, the team has 20 athletes and seven certified instructors. The team is growing larger and stronger, but many of the athletes never stepped on a board before.

“Some people never got on a snowboard before, but we don’t have any beginners anymore. Our athletes are at a high functioning intermediate level,” Amato said.

All of the instructors were certified in Special Olympic training to work with the athletes one-on-one. During these interactive practices, athletes were taught the basic movements, motions and procedures of the sport. Once the athletes are comfortable, they are ready to hit the slopes.

“I love this,” T.J. Zuppa, Special Olympics snowboarder, said. “I’m surprised how quickly I’m learning — it’s so much fun.”

Many parents also earned their certification to join the athletes on the mountain and keep the practices orderly.

“We’re definitely part of the snowboarding culture, and it takes a village to build a snowboarder,” Amato said.

So, what’s next for the team?

Blue Mountain will host the first Ski & Snowboard Invitational for both state teams on Feb. 1. Then, athletes will prepare for the Winter Games from Feb. 9-11 at Seven Spring Resort. Eighteen athletes qualified for the games and half of them are from this program.

The Pennsylvania Special Olympics Snowboarding team practices Wednesday and Thursday nights at Blue Mountain. The ski resort has covered all of the team’s expenses.

“I give many props to Blue Mountain. They offered to help in any way for the program,” Amato said.