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Largest Winter Sports Festival for People with Disabilities
Posted by
JLoMonday, November 21, 2011
The cold weather is upon us and our friends at the Disabled Sports USA (a former
Quality of Life grantee) are having a week-long event to celebrate. Here are the details:
WHAT
24th Annual The Hartford Ski Spectacular, Nation’s Largest Winter Sports Festival for People with Disabilities
WHEN/WHERE
December 4-11 at Beaver Run Resort and Breckenridge Ski Resort, Breckenridge, Colorado
DETAILS
The eight-day event is the nation’s largest winter sports festival for individuals with physical disabilities. More than 700 participants ranging in ability from first-time skiers to members of the U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Team will come together. Also attending will be more than 100 wounded warriors and their families. One of the youths participating will be Brad Humphrey, 17, of Indianapolis, who was injured in the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair on Aug. 13.
Programs offered at The Hartford Ski Spectacular help strengthen and expand adaptive ski programs in communities throughout the U.S.; identify and train youth, wounded warriors, and others with disabilities including those who strive to be winter Paralympians; and help local DSUSA chapters improve their services. A week of ski race training, sponsored by U.S. Paralympics, prepares athletes for the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
New this year are sled hockey and wheelchair curling clinics, culminating in an exhibition game with a wheelchair curling demonstration. The ski instructor academy endorsed by Professional Ski Instructors of America-American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) offers training for instructors in the latest and safest adaptive ski techniques for skiers with disabilities. “Learn to” programs in alpine and Nordic skiing, biathlon, sled hockey, curling and snowboarding are also offered.
“The Hartford Ski Spectacular is an ideal event for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness.” Kirk Bauer, a disabled Vietnam veteran, and Director of Disabled Sports USA.
People can follow the action at The Hartford Ski Spectacular on Twitter and Facebook. Look for @DisabledSportUS on Twitter and on Facebook.
Watch a video of action from previous events!
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