Breckenridge, CO – Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA) will host the 28th annual The Hartford Ski Spectacular Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 at Beaver Run Resort and Breckenridge Ski Resort. The week-long event, sponsored by insurer The Hartford, is the nation’s largest winter sports festival for individuals with physical disabilities. More than 800 participants, ranging in ability from first-time skiers to members of the U.S. Paralympic Team, will come together. Also attending will be more than 100 wounded service members from U.S. and Great Britain, Boston Marathon bombing survivors, U.S. Paralympic champions such as gold medalists Alana Nichols and Evan Strong, and young U.S. Paralympic hopefuls.
Among the participating athletes will be Retired U.S. Army Captain Will Reynolds, who was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device in 2004, causing him to lose his left leg. After getting involved in adaptive sports through Disabled Sports USA’s Warfighter Sports program, Reynolds has become a mentor to newly injured military and young adaptive athletes.
“Adaptive sports, played a prominent role in my recovery and rehabilitation process,” said Reynolds. “Sports allowed me to regain confidence in my physical abilities, and I’m honored to return to The Hartford Ski Spectacular to give back to other wounded veterans.”
“We are again thrilled to partner with The Hartford, with the support of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other generous supporters, to offer this premier event and kick off the winter season,” says Kirk Bauer, JD, executive director of DSUSA. “The Hartford Ski Spectacular is an ideal event for individuals with disabilities to get world-class instruction in skiing and snowboarding and is just one of the many examples of how our athletes are achieving their goals and gaining independence through sports post-injury.”
“Learn to” programs in alpine and Nordic skiing, biathlon, sled hockey, curling and snowboarding will be offered. In addition to these lessons, The Hartford Ski Spectacular also strengthens and expands adaptive snow sports programs in communities throughout the United States by training staff and volunteers at DSUSA chapters in the national adaptive academy. 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 and snowboard techniques for skiers with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Grand Junction (Colo.) VA Medical Center and the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic provide essential equipment and technical support to The Hartford Ski Spectacular.