| The
16th annual rendition of The Hartford Ski Spectacular, the
nation’s largest winter sports festival for people with
physical disabilities, witnessed a number of milestones as
snow enthusiasts once again took over the slopes of Breckenridge,
Colorado,
Dec. 7-14, 2003.
The popular ski resort attracted some 614
people for a week of sports education, amateur and elite racing,
and fun for all involved. Hosted by Disabled Sports USA and
sponsored by disability insurer The Hartford Financial Services
Group, Inc., The Hartford Ski Spectacular was once more a
common ground for people with physical disabilities to enjoy
healthy outdoor recreation and celebrate what they could —
instead of couldn’t — accomplish.
Among the milestones noted at the week’s
conclusion were:
- The Level II Giant Slalom race, sanctioned
by the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association (USSA), drew
the highest number of entrants in its Ski Spectacular history
with 62 competitors.
- The 9th annual Corporate Challenge Race,
which pairs entrants from sponsoring firms with U.S. Paralympic
skiers and other Ski Spectacular participants, resulted
in a crowded field of 105 participants within a total of
21 teams racing against each other.
- A farewell to Susan Michalski who marked
2003 as her last year as Learn to Ski Manager for The Hartford
Ski Spectacular. Over the many years she has served in this
capacity, Susan has helped to introduce hundreds of children
and adults to the joy of snow sports through the ever popular
Learn to Ski program. She was honored at the event’s
Closing Banquet held Saturday evening, Dec. 13th.
- The most successful PSIA Adaptive Academy
to date, with continuing education programs on adaptive
snow sports provided for 117 ski and snowboard instructors
from four nations and 21 states in this country.
This national adaptive ski academy held
annually at The Hartford Ski Spectacular is sanctioned by
The Professional Ski Instructors of America to train professionals
in the methods and equipment that allow children and adults
with physical disabilities to access winter sports. Such instruction,
fostered by DS/USA and spreading across the U.S. and abroad,
lets hundreds of ski resorts serve as training locales for
thousands who often require only minimal adaptations to enjoy
snow sports.
In addition to beginner ski and snowboarding
lessons, Ski Spectacular also offered weekday sessions for
entry level nordic skiers, Mid-Level Development Camps for
more accomplished alpine and snowboard fans, and lots of social
activities.
Thanks to the growing importance and popularity
of this PSIA continuing education program, participation in
the December, 2004, training academy will require all attendees
to pre-register. Instructors may obtain details and registration
forms from the DS/USA Web site.
Planning for next December’s Ski Spectacular
will build upon the success of this past event. Such a major
undertaking wouldn’t be possible without the generous
contributions of The Hartford, along with other sponsors,
including United Airlines, Schwartz Communications, Enterprise
Rent-a-Car, Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center, and Breckenridge
Ski Resort. DS/USA is also indebted to host chapter, Breckenridge
Outdoor Education Center, as well as assistance from many
other chapters, notably Adaptive Adventures and DS/USA New
England.
All photos of the event were courtesy
of Ken Watson of DS/USA New England. Other photos by him can
be accessed on the Web at http://community.webshots.com
/user/nhken5. More information about the event can be
found at http://www.dsusa.org.
|
