The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is proud to announce their Third Annual Winter Ski Festival will be held in Killington, Vt., Friday, Jan. 15 through Monday Jan. 18, 2010. Athletes with visual impairment will be given the opportunity to learn to ski or learn to race in the sports of alpine and nordic skiing, while spending a weekend in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
USABA, in conjunction with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, the Gibney Family Foundation and U.S. Paralympics, is proud to offer this recreational opportunity to individuals of all ages and abilities with visual impairments. Whether the participants are first-time skiers or competitive racers, the festival will be catered to each athlete’s ability.
“USABA is extremely pleased to partner with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, the Gibney Family Foundation and U.S. Paralympics to provide a wonderful opportunity for blind and visually impaired skiers including military service members and veterans with eye injuries to develop and enhance their alpine and nordic skiing skills,” said Mark Lucas, USABA’s executive director. “We are also extremely excited to partner with the New England Chapter of the National Association for the Parents of Children with Visual Impairments who will bring their children to participate in the ski programs while parents conduct support meetings to share information and resources for their children.”
Guides and instructors are provided by Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, a non-profit organization located in Vermont, which is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities. Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports will pair each blind and visually impaired skier with a trained ski guide to learn and practice skills in either genre of learn to ski or race. All skill levels are welcome from beginner to advanced.
Participants will stay at a local hotel and will have transportation provided to them for the daily events. The weekend will conclude with a banquet dinner held at the Killington Grand Hotel and will feature a key-note speaker of Paralympic stature. Alpine skiing will be hosted at Pico Ski Resort in Killington, Vt.; while nordic skiing will be at Mountain Top Inn in Chittenden, Vt.
This event will also be hosted as a Paralympic Academy. Local Paralympic Academy events serve as an introduction to Paralympic sport and allow participants to try different activities such as goalball.
The application and additional information more info will be posted in late October on the USABA website: www.usaba.org. For additional information contact John Potts, USABA Sports Director, or Donna Stanley at VT Adaptive Ski & Sports, (802) 353-7584.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I was scanning the web to find skiers who only have one eye. I am now one of the them It was due to My Harley motorcycle accident last April that left me with TBI, and damage nerves on the left side . I was in a coma for 8 days and given my last rites twice becase tney thought Iwas not going to make it. I am pushng forward with my therapy – I stll have a bad right arm and wrist therefore I needed to learn the computer with one hand to contine ny paralegal practice I have discovered that I can still hold the ski poles as lomg as I wear my Brace
I have been skiing for over 40 years and I am not going to give it up Althoug winter has approached – I live near Bristol Mountain in NY I may not be able to get on the slopes this winter because of my brain rehabiltion or just plain waiting for it to rewired – the doctor said it will take about a Year – Honesty my brain work fine,
I have a friend who is a therapist and completety blind but skies at Bristol, We may be able to get to Killingtin for January. I have Skied Killigton, Stowe, Strattom, Okemo and all the rest every winter for the past 40 years
Do you think that would a good idea?
I would talk to your doctor and make sure you’re both on the same page. You know your doctor has your best interests at heart. You can also call USABA and see what sort of advice they may have. They may give you specific questions to ask your doctor so you can make the decision together.
Good luck!
MAPVI