After all the leaves have fallen from the trees and the temperature drops below freezing, my mind turns to the winter ahead and the imminent snow that will soon blanket many parts of the country. It’s December now and time to start thinking about where and when to have your fun in that beautiful white stuff that could only come from the heavens.
I am lucky enough to live in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, home of the famous Champagne Powder™, so for me it’s an easy decision. But for those of you who don’t live in a ski town and don’t get to enjoy skiing very often, or maybe have never tried skiing and would love to see what it’s all about, there is likely an adaptive ski camp nearby that can make sure you have as much fun as the rest of us when winter settles in.
"Colorado is well known for its massive peaks and dozens of ski resorts and should be the first place you start when looking for adaptive ski camps. "
Colorado Adaptive Ski Camps
Colorado is well known for its massive peaks and dozens of ski resorts and should be the first place you start when looking for adaptive ski camps. With nine adaptive programs offering skiing for all levels of skiers with disabilities, there are numerous opportunities for those looking for excitement in the Rocky Mountains. Adaptive Adventures, based out of Evergreen, is a leader in providing adaptive skiing camps, hosting, co-hosting, or participating in nearly 10 camps and clinics in Colorado alone.
The highlights of these camps this year would be the 6th annual Vail All Mountain Ski Camp, the 3rd annual Steamboat All Mountain Ski Camp, the 8th annual Expand Your Horizons Camp in Telluride, and the Stars of Tomorrow Kids Camp in Vail. In addition to these camps, Adaptive Adventures offers mono-ski and bi-ski clinics at Powderhorn Resort in Mesa, Colorado, and mid-level development and level I race camps at Greek Peak in New York and Camelback in Pennsylvania. For detailed information and registration, please visit www.adaptiveadventures.org or contact Joel Berman at (847) 251-8445.
The Vail All Mountain Ski Camp, sponsored and co-hosted by the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Spa, runs from January 10-13, 2008, and features special guests and coaches. Several recently injured soldiers from the Iraq conflict will be in attendance and lead coaches and instructors include 12-time Paralympic gold medalist Sarah Will and multiple Paralympic gold medalist and world champion skier Greg Mannino.
For just $500, camp participants get four nights lodging, daily instruction, access to the NASTAR race course, and two dinners and can count on improving their skills and confidence on the hill. This camp is geared toward intermediate- and advanced-level skiers and riders and will be oversold, so if you interested in checking out Vail, sign up as soon as possible.
The Steamboat All Mountain Ski Camp, co-hosted by Access Anything, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation, and Steamboat Powdercats, runs from January 19-22, 2008, and is also geared toward intermediate- and advanced-level skiers and riders. This year’s camp will host nearly a dozen U.S. wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as some of the country’s top level instructors and coaches.
The same cost of $500 includes four nights lodging, lift tickets, several breakfast, lunch and dinner events, runs down the NASTAR course, instruction, video analysis, and the unique opportunity to participate in a back country powdercat skiing experience (based on skill level) with local powder hounds Steamboat Powdercats. This camp also fills up fast, so don’t waste any time if you think this is the camp for you.
For the 8th consecutive winter, Telluride Mountain will play host to a ski camp for intermediate- and advanced-level skiers and riders from February 4-7, 2008. The Expand Your Horizons camp is held in Southwest Colorado amidst 14,000 foot peaks and gorgeous scenery.
Exploring alternative techniques in skiing and riding, experiencing diverse terrain, and the opportunity to get a feel for race training, moguls, and powder skiing are all included, along with lodging for five nights, in the $699 package price. A package without lodging is also offered as are individual day prices. If you have never been to Telluride, you need this experience. The views alone are worth the trip.
For children with disabilities, and parents who might not think they can ski with their child because of a disability, the Stars of Tomorrow Youth Camp held in Vail, Colorado, from February 22-24, 2008, is the opportunity to give your child the thrill of a lifetime. For just $50 per day per pair—participant child and adult—lodging, equipment, lift tickets for participant, group meals, coaching/instruction, NASTAR and video analysis are all included. And if the cost is still prohibitive to your participation, scholarships are available to help offset the cost of the camp. This social group setting, complete with certified, NSCI-screened instructors is perfect for families wanting that big mountain experience.
As these are just a sampling of the camps available in Colorado, don’t be afraid to get online and do some research on camps held in Crested Butte (www.adaptivesports.org), Aspen (www.challengeaspen.com), and Winter Park (www.nscd.org).
If Colorado is too far to travel and you would like to start a little closer to home, there are several camps offered in the mid-west and on the East coast including St. Louis, Missouri, Duluth, Minnesota, and Sugarbush, Vermont.
Missouri
The Gateway Disabled Ski Program in St. Louis, Missouri, is home to the annual Bill Bowness Ski Clinic, which takes place form January 11-13, 2008. This clinic is free to participants, as they are helping volunteers and instructors hone their skill and achieve certifications in adaptive skiing. In addition to this clinic, Gateways also hosts five children’s camps throughout the winter season.
For any child with a disability who belongs to the Variety Club, camps on January 23 as well as February 6, 20, and 26 will be offered free of charge. And on February 2, children with visual impairments can learn to ski through a camp run in cooperation with the Delta Gamma Foundation. For more information on attending these events please call 636 938-6478 or email to gdsp.org@hotmail.com.
Minnesota
The Courage Center in Duluth, Minnesota, is home to the Mono-ski Madness Camp, sponsored by the Miller Dwan Foundation and held at Spirit Mountain from February 27-29, 2008. This camp is unique in that they cater to all ages and abilities from children all the way up to seniors. It is very affordable at only $50 per day. This price does not include lodging, but local accommodations are also reasonable, in the $70-$90 per night range. Participants are also on their own for meals outside of the Friday night dinner sponsored by the Courage Center. Special guest Matt Feeney of Adaptive Adventures will be on hand to provide expert instruction. For more information and registration please contact Jamie Tupper at (218) 726-4834 or Jamie.tupper@courage.org.
Vermont
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports has been empowering people with disabilities for more than 20 years and offers several learn to ski and race programs and camps at multiple locations in Vermont. People with disabilities can learn to ski or ride at Pico Mountain from January 25-27 or at Sugarbush Mountain form February 1-3.
The annual kids’ camp also takes place from February 1-3 at Sugarbush and teaches children with disabilities from age 8-16 how to improve their skills while having fun on the slopes. The camp includes on-snow skill clinics, practice gate training, a pizza party, free skiing, coaching and a Sunday afternoon “Fun Race” and obstacle course. The cost of the camp is free but space is limited and participants and families are on their own for lodging. For more information pleas contact Kip Dalury at (802) 786-4991 or office@vermontadaptive.org.
Disabled Veterans
In addition to all of the camps mentioned here, there are countless opportunities now available to wounded veterans returning from overseas. If you are a veteran with a disability and would like to find out more about these opportunities, the best resources available are through the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) and Disabled Sports USA (www.dsusa.org).
Whether you are a veteran, adult, or child with a disability, winter fun is out there and available to all of us. Get out and enjoy life to its fullest and never let your disability slow you down!
Craig Kennedy is a published author, motivational speaker, and president of Access Anything, LLC, a nationally recognized leader in adaptive sports and adventure travel for people with disabilities.
See Related Articles
Discover how adaptive skiing got its start, in From Rehab Tool to Elite Sport: A History of Disabled Skiing.
See Adaptive Skiing More Available for People with Disabilities to learn more about adaptive skiing with a disability and how you can get started in this exciting and rewarding sport.
