SUMMER 2015 A PUBLICATION OF DISABLED SPORTS USA VOLUME 20 | NUMBER 2 ATHLETE PROFILE: NOAH HOTCHKISS Page 13 BE BOWLED OVER BY BOCCIA Page 14 BASKETBALL WHEELCHAIR 101 INTRODUCING THE COLLEGE PARK VELOCIT Y ® IN ELECTRIC GREEN Made with aircraft grade aluminum, the Velocity’s housing was reinforced for strength. The anterior toe spacer, plates and fasteners were redesigned, adding additional durability for the highest impact users. facebook.com/CollegeParkInd youtube.com/CollegeParkInd college-park.com/velocity 800.728.7950 | 586.294.0067 RECHARGED AND READY “LIFE IS NOT ABOUT FINDING YOURSELF. IT’S ABOUT CREATING YOURSELF.” Since she was a little girl, Carrie Davis knew she was unique. Born without her left arm, she often wondered “Why me?” She longed to be known for her contributions, not what she was missing. A prosthetic wearer since she was nine months old and long-time Hanger Clinic patient, today Carrie is the face and personality of Amputee Empowerment Partners, the leading peer-to-peer support network for those living with limb loss or difference. Carrie finds the answer to “Why me?” through helping others. In 740+ clinics throughout the U.S., Hanger Clinic delivers orthotic and prosthetic solutions to help more than 1,000,000 patients like Carrie turn their hopes and dreams into reality, break down barriers and move their lives forward. To find a Hanger Clinic near you, call 1-877-4HANGER or visit HangerClinic.com. Visit the new HangerClinic.com 1-877-4HANGER | HangerClinic.com C 1 Contents 13 30 © 2015 by Disabled Sports USA, Inc. All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted in part or in whole without written permission from DSUSA. 5 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 PERSPECTIVE Kirk Bauer, JD, Executive Director CAN’T PLAY STANDING UP? COME SIT DOWN! Wheelchair Basketball 101 SAVE THE DATE The Hartford Ski Spectacular MEET TEAM USA COACH STEPHANIE WHEELER Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Coach NOAH HOTCHKISS E-Team Athlete Gives Back BOCCIA A Sport for All Abilities WARFIGHTER SPORTS Instructor Training Opportunities NEW CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS CHAPTER LISTING Find Your Local Chapter CHAPTER EVENTS Upcoming Adaptive Sports Opportunities MARKETPLACE Product Showcase 6 8 11 12 13 14 16 20 22 24 31 8 14 Cover photo courtesy of Marvin Young and NWBA Twenty-five years ago, Congress signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), banning discrimination on the basis of disability. Without the access granted through this law, it is unlikely Disabled Sports USA would have grown into a nationwide chapter network with more than 118 chapters in 42 states, providing more than 40 sports to 60,000 participants annually. As the executive director of this growing organization, I’ve gotten to see the direct impact of this evolution through our participants. Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Noah Hotchkiss, a young athlete with a spinal cord injury who is a member of Disabled Sports USA’s Alpine E-Team. Noah was lucky enough to get involved with his local Disabled Sports USA chapter, where he excelled as a skier and wheelchair basketball player. A member of the Blue Elk Nation, Noah quickly realized how few of his Native American peers had access to the same opportunities, so he has launched a campaign to host wheelchair basketball camps at reservations across the country to provide an opportunity for them. Flip to page 13 to read more about Noah and his goal of reaching athletes on reservation lands nationwide. Noah’s story highlights both how far we’ve come, and how much work there still is to do to ensure that Disabled Sports USA’s vision that every person, regardless of ability, has an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation in their community. As a founding member of the Athletics for All taskforce, Disabled Sports USA is working hard to ensure that all athletes with disabilities are provided the opportunity to participate in extracurricular sports activities in public schools. The taskforce is working together to provide coaching materials to help schools seamlessly integrate athletes with disabilities into their extracurricular sports programs. Two sports the taskforce is currently focusing on are featured in this magazine: wheelchair basketball, page 8, and boccia, page 14. Team USA’s women’s wheelchair basketball coach, Stephanie Wheeler, has seen firsthand the benefits of extracurricular sports on the young women she coaches. Read more of her story on page 12. As we celebrate how far we’ve come, I challenge you, the reader, to do your part to ensure the next quarter century moves us closer to the realization of our vision. Here’s to the next 25 years! Kirk Bauer, JD US Army (Ret) Executive Director, Disabled Sports USA PERSPECTIVE A QUARTER CENTURY OF PROGRESS! CHALLENGE Magazine (ISSN 1940-526X) is published three times a year by Disabled Sports USA, Inc., 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850 Editorial Director: Karalyn Stott, Disabled Sports USA, 240-268-2180 • kstott@dsusa.org Advertising inquiries: Ron Sonntag Public Relations, Patty Johnson, 800-969-0200 ext 103 • patty@rspr.com Disabled Sports USA Board: Bob Meserve (President), Steve Goodwin (Vice President), Jack Daly, Anjali Forber-Pratt, Ralph Green, Carol Harnett, Gail Loveland, Todd Sajauskas, Katrina Shaklee, John Urias CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 6 Because the world isnȇt flat The new Motion Foot MX has 50° of smooth hydraulic ankle motion that yielGs natural movement anG stability )or those Zho neeG a ZalNinJ, hiNinJ, JarGeninJ, yoJa Ioot www.fillauer.commoWLoQIooWm[ Motion Control a division of By Dan Humphreys, MS, CDSS, NWBA Director of Sport and High Performance Can’t Play Standing Up? Come Sit Down! WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL In the beginning you had to have a spinal cord injury in order to play wheelchair basketball. But that, much like the game itself, has come a long way since 1946. Today, in order to be eligible to play wheelchair basketball within the NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association) a person must have a permanent lower extremity disability that precludes them from playing competitive stand-up basketball. In addition to spinal cord injury (SCI), many types of disabilities qualify a person to play wheelchair basketball. Spina bifida, cerebral palsy, post polio syndrome, lower extremity amputation, leg length discrepancy, and permanent joint disorders are just a few of the disabilities that would qualify a person to play wheelchair basketball. One of the misconceptions of wheelchair basketball is that you must use a chair for everyday mobility in order to play the sport. In fact, many wheelchair basketball athletes get up out of their chair at the end of a game or practice and walk around for the rest of the day. This could be a person with an amputation that utilizes a prosthetic, a person with an incomplete spinal cord injury, or a person with cerebral palsy that is ambulatory. Many people who play in the NWBA qualify under Minimum Disability. These people CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 8 In order to start playing wheelchair basketball there is only one piece of equipment that is needed that is different from playing stand-up basketball – a wheelchair! If you are an everyday wheelchair user, you can start playing in your everyday chair in order to get a feel for the game. But once you decide wheelchair basketball is a game for you, it is time to look into getting a sport chair. A sport chair can be made specific to wheelchair basketball, but it can also be made to allow you to play numerous sports such as tennis, softball, and football. A typical sport chair will have dimensions slightly different from an everyday chair because it is designed to maximize your athletic ability, not to keep you comfortable and healthy through 8-10 hours of constant sitting. Generally, the chair will be lighter, it will not have brakes, the wheels will have greater camber (angle) to facilitate a tight turning radius, and it will feel like you just got into your own sports car! A typical sport chair will cost from $2,000 - $3,500 depending on the options that you want. Chairs can be ordered with either a rigid frame (for seasoned athletes that know exactly what they want) or an adjustable frame (for newer athletes that need to find their ideal chair set-up or younger athletes that need some flexibility to grow into the chair). There are a number of manufacturers that make high quality sport chairs: Top End, Per4Max, Eagle Sportchairs, Quickie, and Colours to name a few. Each of these manufacturers can direct you to representatives that can assist in taking measurements in order to help you get into the right chair. Investing thousands of dollars in equipment for a new sport is not something many people can do. Most programs that offer wheelchair basketball have chairs that can be used throughout the season by athletes in the program. Many people play in a program chair for years before they invest in their own chair. Everyone Wants a New Set of Wheels There are actually very few rule differences between stand-up and wheelchair basketball. The basket is 10 feet high, a regulation ball is used, and the free-throw line is 15 feet. The NWBA rules are based on the NCAA rules with the following differences: • you must dribble once for every two pushes in order to avoid a traveling violation; • there is no double dribble violation in wheelchair basketball; • the front casters of the shooter’s chair may be over the free-throw and three-point lines during a shot, the rear wheels must remain behind the lines until the ball is released; • and there is still a 3-second lane violation; however, if a person is trapped in the lane and continues to try to exit the lane, a 3-second violation will not be called. There are additional variances within the various NWBA Divisions: • The Women’s Division utilizes a women’s ball. • The Junior Prep Division • utilizes a Spalding Rookie ball that is smaller and lighter than a women’s ball; • plays with an 8-ft., 6-in. high basket; • uses a 13-ft. free-throw line; • and plays four, eight-minute quarters. How High is the Basket? may not have a disability that is noticeable to the eye but have been determined by a medical professional to have a permanent disability that precludes them from playing competitive stand-up basketball. A person who has undergone reconstructive knee surgery may fall into this category. 9 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 10 The NWBA offers five divisions of play: Championship, Women’s, Division III, Collegiate, and Junior. There are two leagues within the Junior Division: Varsity and Prep. Championship Division The Championship Division is the highest level of play within the NWBA. Both men and women can play within this division, and many of our Paralympians compete within this division. Women’s Division The Women’s Division offers the opportunity for women to compete against one another. There is no age restriction on this division so it is open to all females, and anyone on a Women’s Division team is also eligible to compete on either a Championship or Division III team. Division III Division III was founded as a recreational division to allow newly injured athletes the opportunity to experience wheelchair basketball and develop their skills in a slightly less competitive environment than the Championship Division. Anyone is eligible to be a member of a Division III team. College Division The College Division of the NWBA is one of the most unique opportunities within adapted sport. The teams within this division are part of their university and the athletes are all full- time students. Depending on the university, scholarships are available to play wheelchair basketball. Currently, the following institutions offer wheelchair basketball within the NWBA: Collegiate Division: • University of Illinois Champaign Urbana – Men and Women • University of Alabama – Men and Women • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – Men and Women • University of Texas-Arlington – Men and Women • University of Missouri – Men • Edinboro University – Men • Southwest Minnesota State University – Men • Auburn University – Men Junior Division The Junior Division is comprised of two leagues; Varsity and Prep. These are differentiated by age requirements. In order to be eligible for the Prep League an athlete must be 13 or under at the start of the season. The Junior Division is open to both boys and girls, and athletes in the Junior Division are eligible to participate on an adult team as well. Athletes on a Prep team may also play on a Varsity team. Will I Be Able to Play Against People My Own Age? In addition to these Divisions, the NWBA has numerous programs for veterans funded through a generous grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and various sponsors. These programs include development camps, clinics, coaches’ education, training and certification, and regional and national competitions. Giving Back to Those Who Served The NWBA season starts Oct. 1 and ends in early April. Many teams play between 20 and 30 games during the season, culminating in the National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NWBT) where the top teams in each division come to one location in order to compete for their national championship. The NWBT typically hosts approximately 90 teams and awards five national championships. When Can I Play? The NWBA has over 210 teams in 38 states across the country. Information on local programs and a calendar of events can be found on the NWBA website at NWBA. org. For more information, contact Dan Humphreys at danielhumphreys@nwba.org. How Do I Get Started? Photo courtesy of Marvin Young Photo courtesy of Marvin Young PROGRAMS INCLUDE: n Daily Ski & Snowboard Lessons n Week-long Ski & Snowboard Race Camp n Adaptive Equipment Demonstrations n Free Sled Hockey, Nordic, Biathlon and Wheelchair Curling Lessons NATIONAL ADAPTIVE ACADEMY CONTINUING EDUCATION CLINICS: n Professional Ski Instructors of America n American Association of Snowboard Instructors THE HARTFORD Title Sponsor: Conducted by: Registration Opens in September Check-In: Monday, November 30 Programs: Tuesday-Saturday, December 1-5 Departures: December 6 www.skispec.org SAV ETHE DAT E NO V 3 0 - DEC 6 2 015 Bre cke nrid ge, Co lora do CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 12 ATHLETE PROFILE STEPHANIE WHEELER: ‘SET THE BAR HIGH, YOU WILL REACH IT’ Stephanie Wheeler, head coach for Team USA’s Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team and the University of Illinois Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, has high expectations of her teams. “If you set the bar high, you will reach it,” she said. She knows their capabilities, because not so long ago she was one of them – playing at the University of Illinois while training with Team USA, competing in back-to-back Paralympic Games, winning two gold medals, and dreaming of coming back to her alma mater to teach others the game she’s loved since childhood. Wheeler started playing wheelchair basketball at age 12, six years after she was injured in a car accident that left her paralyzed. An active youth, Wheeler wanted to stay involved in sports, so she found her local adaptive sports club. They o¤ered one sport: wheelchair basketball. “At the time that was really the only sport I knew I could play,” Wheeler said. “I’m from North Carolina. Basketball is in our blood.” A few years later she attended a sports camp at the University of Illinois. It was her first introduction to the larger world adaptive sports could open up for her. “I grew up in a town of 1,000, so to see that this was something I could actually do if I worked hard and got good grades, it excited me,” she said. Wheeler worked on her game and her academics, and found herself back at the University of Illinois as a student-athlete where she would win three national championships. Many of her university teammates were also members of Team USA, and they thought Wheeler had what it took to join them. “Tryouts were open at that point, and my coach and teammates encouraged me to apply,” she said. She didn’t initially make the team, but in 2001 she was named to the development team, and she would go on to compete in two Paralympic Games, Athens and Beijing, where she would take home back-to-back gold medals. “I was really fortunate to be on some great teams and lucky enough to go to two games,” Wheeler said. “Winning was pretty incredible. That group of twelve was the best in the world at what we did.” In 2010, when Wheeler retired as a player, she wanted to stay involved in the sport and, fortunately, the head coaching job at her alma mater opened up at the right time. “It was serendipitous,” she said. “I’ve known I wanted to coach since graduating in 2004. I loved working camp and watching athletes learn, and I get to pass along the knowledge of the game.” Wheeler just completed her sixth year as the head coach. Her program’s success led to her being named as Team USA’s coach, which trains at Lakeshore Foundation, a chapter of Disabled Sports USA. This spring, she watched as the first group of seniors she helped recruit accepted their college diplomas. “You get to watch them grow over the course of five years and be a part of it. It’s a huge responsibility,” she said. Wheeler takes this responsibility seriously, because she understands the benefits that adaptive sports have had in her life, and how these experiences will stick with her players long after their last college game. “It is ten times as important for an athlete with disabilities to participate,” she said. “They get the opportunity to socialize. They learn self-discipline and work ethic. The health benefits are just as, if not more, important than for able-bodied athletes.” She encourages anyone who knows an adaptive athlete to get them involved in a sport. “Try something,” she said. “Get your loved one involved. Encourage them and support them in the best way you know how, but set the bar and have expectations. They are capable of doing anything.”’ Do you share Stephanie’s passion for promoting adaptive sports opportunities in schools? Disabled Sports USA is working with more than a dozen community-based organizations to promote access to extracurricular sports opportunities through the Athletics for All Taskforce. Providing the tools and guidelines by which coaches, athletic directors, and school administrators can include students with physical disabilities in interscholastic sports, the task force now has materials on seven sports, including wheelchair basketball. For more information, visit www.athleticsforall.net. “I’m just like any other 16-year-old,” said Noah Hotchkiss. When Noah was first involved in the car accident that caused his spinal cord injury, he and his family were uncertain whether this simple statement would ever become a reality. Noah and his dad, Jason, were worried he wouldn’t be able to continue to participate in all of the activities they did together like rafting and adventuring in the woods near their Durango, Colo., home. “A while after my incident, me and my dad started creating contraptions that helped me go rafting and adventuring, and with a basketball hoop at my house I started experimenting. It wasn’t until I got involved with the Adaptive Sports Association (a chapter of Disabled Sports USA), that I really understood the opportunities that were out there for me,” Noah said. As a member of the Blue Elk Tribe, adaptive sports opportunities haven’t always been easy to come by. “When we started, we realized the opportunities for the disabled on reservation lands were slim,” he said. This is why Disabled Sports USA helped sponsor Noah to put wheelchair basketball clinics on his reservation and others across the U.S. “It wasn’t only sports, but everyday equipment and access to quality medical attention were terrible,” Noah said. “That’s when the idea to create a program on the reservation popped into our minds.” Basketball was chosen because of its popularity on reservation lands. “On the reservation, basketball is king,” he said. He hopes to inspire other young athletes with disabilities and show them they can still participate in sports alongside their peers. “Sports helped me learn that it was up to me to become a better athlete. It is also up to me to have a better life, find better care, and get the best for myself and those around me,” Noah said. It is this sense of self-empowerment he hopes to instill in these new athletes, in the same way his mentors inspired him. “About six months after my accident, I met Alana Nichols (Paralympic wheelchair basketball player and alpine skier) and she let me wear her medals. I realized that they didn’t just give those medals to her out of pity; she had to work hard and train to earn them. She was my first inspiration.” Much like his mentor, Noah is a dual-sport athlete. Through the Adaptive Sports Association, Noah has also become an accomplished skier. This past winter, he was recognized as a member of the 2014/2015 Disabled Sports USA Alpine E-Team, a team of youth athletes who are training at the highest level with the goal of one day making the Paralympic team. “My ultimate goals are to become a world-class athlete in both skiing and basketball and to give back to the communities that helped me on my journey. What I enjoy most about mentoring other adaptive athletes is the ability to impact and change their lives. When I’m out skiing or playing basketball, I look at my adaptive athletes and see their smiles and that makes me happy.” ATHLETE PROFILE NOAH HOTCHKISS: DISABILITY INSPIRED TEEN TO HELP OTHERS A BENEFIT FOR THE NATIONAL ABILITY CENTER A U G U S T 2 2 , 2 0 1 5 • P A R K C I T Y , U T www.SummitChalleng e100. org 102-, 52- AN D 18-MILE R OAD RIDE S FREE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILTY 13 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 14 B occia can be played indoors or outdoors on a hard, flat surface in either individual or team play, socially or competitively, up to the Paralympic level. With assistive devices, boccia can be played by anyone, no matter their ability. The game begins with a player throwing, rolling, propelling with their feet, or rolling down a ramp, the white target ball, called the jack, onto the court. Opponents then take turns trying to throw or bowl their game balls (six for each player per round) as close as possible to the target ball. The basic principle is to score as many points as possible by getting more of your own boccia balls closer to the jack than your opponent. The athlete, pair, or team whose ball is closest to the jack scores one point, and receives an additional point for every ball that sits closer to the jack than the opposition’s closest ball. In matches for individual and/or a pair, four rounds (or ends) are played. In a match for a team of three, six round are played. Whichever individual/team scores the most points, wins the match. A regulation court consists of a common playing area (6 meters x 12.5 meters) with two individual player boxes (2.5 meters x 1 meter) on one end. The common playing area has a designated target area in which all scoring occurs. Players throw from specific boxes marked on the court. These boxes are equal in size and each player must remain completely within his or her box during play. However, “unofficial” courts can be set up on virtually any hard surface. The beauty of boccia is that, in recreational play, the rules may be changed according to the players, so friends and families of all abilities can play together. Boccia balls are made of many materials. Good quality boccia balls are soft enough to grasp, but hard enough to roll well on the court surface. Recreational boccia sets are readily available at sporting goods stores and large retail establishments. BE BOWLED OVER BY What is boccia? Boccia – can be pronounced as botch-ya or botch-ee and also spelled as bocce – is a game throwing a ball towards a target, first played by the ancient Egyptians with polished rocks. According to the United States Bocce Federation, there are more than 25 million bocce enthusiasts in the U.S. today. 15 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 B occia was practiced for many years as a leisure activity until it was introduced at the New York 1984 Paralympic Games as a competitive sport. In Paralympic competition, it was originally presented as a sport for athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) but is now open to male and female athletes with severe locomotor disabilities of a cerebral or non-cerebral origin, including individuals with stroke, traumatic brain injury, high-level spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), and arthrogryposis. The U.S. Paralympic Boccia Team and the day-to-day operations of the high performance program are overseen by BlazeSports America, a chapter of Disabled Sports USA, the High Performance Management Organization for boccia in the United States. Boccia players are classified in four categories: • BC1 class athletes have cerebral palsy and may propel the ball with their hand or foot. They may have difficulty gripping the ball so they are permitted an assistant to perform actions such as handing them the boccia balls. • BC2 class athletes also have cerebral palsy, but have sufficient dexterity to manipulate and throw a ball and so are not eligible for assistance on the court. • BC3 class athletes are athletes who have either cerebral palsy or other conditions. They have the highest level of impairment and are unable to throw or kick the ball consistently into play. They will use assistive devices (ramps, arm or mouth aids) to propel the ball. They may have a sports assistant who they instruct to position the ramp for each delivery. There are very specific rules when a sports assistant is used. The assistant is not allowed to view the playing court and must follow specific instructions from the player at all times. • BC4 athletes are those who do not have cerebral palsy and were first included in the Games in 2004. They do not have spasticity, ataxia, or athetosis, but must have severely limited function, strength, and coordination in all extremities. Disabilities in this category include muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron diseases. For more information about boccia, including classification, visit BISFed – Boccia International Sports Federation, boccia’s governing body, at bisfed.com. Paralympic Boccia Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), a chapter of Disabled Sports USA, is hosting the Chicagoland Regional Boccia Invitational, Nov. 14-15. The event is $40 per athlete, which covers registration, Saturday lunch and dinner, and Sunday lunch. The event will provide a classification opportunity for those looking to earn points toward competition. Divisions include BC1, BC2, BC2B, BC3, BC4, and BC4B. The event is available free of charge to injured veterans. Interested individuals can register by emailing Jason at jstubbeman@ric.org. Interested in Playing Boccia? CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 16 The 2015 The Hartford Ski Spectacular will host more than 100 disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces as part of the Warfighter Sports program. While most of them will learn to ski and snowboard for the first time, or barrel down a racecourse while learning to navigate gates, several will participate as volunteers and instructors teaching their peers the adaptive sports skills they learned post-injury. Becoming an adaptive instructor requires more than a high ability level in any one sport. It requires potential teachers complete a comprehensive training curriculum and many volunteer hours before they ever head out on a solo lesson assignment. The Hartford Ski Spectacular provides the perfect training ground for those who have begun the process, as the National Adaptive Academy, sponsored by the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), has more than 40 courses targeted at a variety of instructing methods. Retired U.S. Army Capt. Matt Staton is now a regular volunteer at his local mountain during the winter months and took his continuing education classes at The Hartford Ski Spectacular. He earned his Level I Adaptive Certification from the PSIA after realizing the importance of giving back. “I love the benefits I have gotten from sports, along with a sense of giving back WARFIGHTER ATHLETES CAN LEARN TO INSTRUCT AT THE HARTFORD SKI SPECTACULAR WARFIGHTER SPORTS 17 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 WARFIGHTER SPORTS to my community,” he said. “This is why I continue to not only participate, but teach too. I love that I can get out and have fun, while introducing others to something new.” Are you a disabled veteran interested in becoming an adaptive instructor? Prerequisites include: • Being willing to dedicate 50+ volunteer hours this winter • Living within driving distance of an adaptive ski/ snowboard program • Committing to completing the PSIA-AASI adaptive ski or snowboard certification process • Already Level I PSIA-AASI qualified? Veterans can also apply to increase their certification level Contact Karalyn Stott at kstott@dsusa.org to learn more about training opportunities available in a variety of adaptive sports. For more Warfighter Sports opportunities visit www.warfightersports.org. Welcome to a new era in mobility. Built on the Ford Explorer CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 18 ARIEL CORPORATION WORLD STANDARD COMPRESSORS Diamond Platinum SPONSORS Disabled Sports USA Thanks its Corporate and Community Sponsors for their support! 19 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 SPONSORS Gold May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust Dumbarton Strategies Trophy Trust Silver AES Global Insurance AM General/Mobility Ventures LLC Anthem Life Aon Risk Solutions Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center Birdies for the Brave Breckenridge Ski and Sports Capital Bank Cooley LLP Crowe Family Foundation D’Amato & Lynch, LLP DAV Charitable Service Trust DLA Piper eReinsure.com Franklin Templeton Investments Gibson Dunn Goodwin Procter LLP Greenberg Traurig Hub Financial Charities JLT Re Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Lewis Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP Marsh & McLennan Companies The Moore Charitable Foundation Munich Re O’Melveny & Myers LLP Orrick, Herrington & Sutcli¤e LLP Oshkosh Defense PARTNERS+simons Pegasystems Phoenix Beverages Pro Athletes Organization Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Foundation Salesforce.com Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Strategic O¤sites Group, Inc. Swiss Re America Holding Corporation Trijicon U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Foundation AQUABILITY Location: Boise, Idaho www.aquability.org Sports O¤ered: swimming NEW CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED SPORTS USA ATHLETES Disabled Sports USA is excited to have seven new chapters join our nationwide network so far in 2015. These chapters o›er programming in more than 20 sports, extending the opportunities available to athletes with disabilities. To find out more about these new chapters, please visit their websites. Don’t see a chapter near you? Flip to page 22 to see our full chapter listing of 118 nationwide community-based programs. CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 20 aquAbility BLAZESPORTS AMERICA Location: Decatur, Georgia www.blazesports.org Sports O¤ered: boccia, climbing, canoe/ kayaking, swimming, track & field, wheelchair basketball, watersports CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ADAPTIVE SPORTS CENTER Location: Shaver Lake, California www.centralcaladaptive.org Sports O¤ered: camping, fly-fishing, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, snowsports MOVE ALONG Location: Oswego, New York www.movealonginc.org Sports O¤ered: aquatics, cycling, kayaking, wheelchair basketball, sled hockey REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO Location: Chicago, Illinois www.ric.org Sports O¤ered: archery, boccia, cycling, golf, fitness classes, sailing, sled hockey, softball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair road racing, wheelchair rugby ROGER C. PEACE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL Location: Greenville, South Carolina www.ghs.org/rcp Sports O¤ered: cycling, golf, sailing, tennis, water-skiing UNITED STATES DRIVING FOR THE DISABLED, INC. Location: Georgetown, Kentucky www.usdfd.org Sports O¤ered: carriage driving The battle isn’t over. AIG is proud to partner with Disabled Sports USA to raise awareness and funds for wounded veterans in their Warfighter Sports Program. © 2015 American International Group, Inc. Play like a pro. Meet the new AllPro: the most naturally active, flexible, energy-returning foot from Fillauer. www.fillauer.com ALABAMA Lakeshore Foundation Birmingham, AL 35209 lakeshore.org info@lakeshore.org 205-313-7400 ALASKA Alpine Alternatives, Inc. Anchorage, AK 99507 alpinealternatives.org alpinealternatives@arctic.net 907-561-6655 Challenge Alaska Anchorage, AK 99501 challengealaska.org info@challengealaska.org 907-344-7399 Southeast Alaska Independent Living Juneau, AK 99801 sailinc.org info@sailinc.org 907-586-4920 ARIZONA Arizona Disabled Sports Mesa, AZ 85210 arizonadisabledsports.com lane@arizonadisabledsports.com 480-835-6273 CALIFORNIA Adaptive Sports and Recreation Association San Diego, CA 92195 adaptivesportsandrec.org info@adaptivesportsandrec.org 619-336-1806 Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) Berkeley, CA 94703 borp.org info@borp.org 510-849-4663 Central California Adaptive Sports Center Shaver Lake, CA 93664 www.centralcaladaptive.org info@centralcaladaptive.org 559-593-2504 Disabled Sports USA Eastern Sierra Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 disabledsportseasternsierra.org info@ disabledsportseasternsierra.org 760-934-0791 Disabled Sports USA Far West Truckee, CA 96162 dsusafw.org info@disabledsports.net 530-581-4161 Disabled Sports USA Los Angeles - The Unrecables Los Angeles, CA 90024 unrecables.com info@unrecables.org Disabled Sports USA Orange County - The Achievers Fullerton, CA 92838 theachievers.org dsoc.trips@gmail.com 949-460-6969 Discovery Blind Sports Kirkwood, CA 95646 discoveryblindsports.org discoveryblindsports@yahoo.com 209-258-2233 Shasta Disabled Sports USA Mount Shasta, CA 96067 shastadsusa.org info@shastadsusa.org 530-925-1531 US Adaptive Recreation Center Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 usarc.org mail@usarc.org 909-584-0269 COLORADO Adaptive Action Sports Copper Mountain, CO 80443 adacs.org info@adacs.org Adaptive Adventures Boulder, CO 80301 adaptiveadventures.org info@adaptiveadventures.org 303-396-1339 Adaptive Sports Association Durango, CO 81301 asadurango.org info@asadurango.com 970-259-0374 Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte Crested Butte, CO 81224 adaptivesports.org info@adaptivesports.org 970-349-2296 Aspen Camp of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Aspen, CO 81654 aspencamp.org info@aspencamp.org 970-923-2511 Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center Breckenridge, CO boec.org boec@boec.org 970-453-6422 Challenge Aspen Snowmass Village, CO 81615 challengeaspen.org possibilities@challengeaspen.org 970-923-0578 Colorado Discover Ability Grand Junction, CO 81502 coloradodiscoverability.org ron@coloradodiscoverability.org 970-257-1222 Foresight Ski Guides, Inc. Vail, CO 80218 foresightskiguides.org info@foresightskiguides.org Golf 4 The Disabled Englewood, CO 80110 golf4thedisabled.org frankmartorella47@gmail.com 303-221-1184 Ignite Adaptive Sports Boulder, CO 80308 igniteadaptivesports.org scheduler@ igniteadaptivesports.org 303-506-6738 National Sports Center for the Disabled Denver, CO 80204 nscd.org info@nscd.org 303-316-1518 Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 steamboatstars.com info@steamboatstars.com 970-870-1950 Telluride Adaptive Sports Telluride, CO 81435 tellurideadaptivesports.org tasp@tellurideadaptivesports.org 970-728-5010 US Handcycling Evergreen, CO 80437 ushf.org ahortman@romega.us 720-239-1360 Visually Impaired & Blind Skiers Colorado Springs, CO 80923 coloradovibes.org 719-337-0161 CONNECTICUT Leaps of Faith Adaptive Skiers Sandy Hook, CT 06482 leapso¤aithwaterskiers.com joel@leapsoffaithwaterskiers.com 203-426-0666 Sports Association of Gaylord Hospital Wallingford, CT 06492 gaylord.org/Home/ WhyGaylord/SportAssociation. aspx sports@gaylord.org 866-429-5673 FLORIDA Florida Disabled Outdoors Association Tallahassee, FL 32301 fdoa.org info@fdoa.org 850-201-2944 GEORGIA Athens Inclusive Recreation and Sports, Inc. (AIRS) Athens, GA 30605 airs-ga.org rgkeeney@gmail.com 703-353-7463 BlazeSports America Norcross, GA 30093 www.blazesports.org info@blazesports.org 404-270-2000 IDAHO Adaptive Wilderness Sports of McCall (AWeSOMe!) McCall, ID 83638 awesomeidaho.org contact@awesomeidaho.org 208-315-4275 AquAbility Boise, ID 83702 aquability.org kmorrison@aquability.org 208-336-1876 Higher Ground Sun Valley Ketchum, ID 83340 highergroundsv.org info@highergroundsv.org 208-726-9298 Recreation Unlimited, Inc. Boise, ID 83706 recreation-unlimited.org contact@recreation-unlimited.org 208-345-6262 ILLINOIS Adaptive Adventures Wilmette, IL 60091 adaptiveadventures.org joel@adaptiveadventures.org 847-251-8445 Dare2Tri Chicago, IL 60642 dare2tri.org info@dare2tri.org Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) Lake Forest, IL 60045 glasa.org info@glasa.org 847-283-0908 Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL 60611 www.ric.org jstubbeman@ric.org 312-238-5001 INDIANA Special Outdoor Leisure Opportunities South Bend, IN 46660 skisolomichiana.org paul.raven@fiserv.com 269-244-8016 Turnstone Center for Disabled Children and Adults, Inc. Fort Wayne, IN 46805 turnstone.org tina@turnstone.org 260-483-2100 IOWA Adaptive Sports Iowa Ames, IA 50010 adaptivesportsiowa.org mike.boone@ adaptivesportsiowa.org 888-777-8881 x115 KANSAS Wheelchair Sports, Inc. Wichita, KS 67203 wcsports.org james_watson@wcsports.org KENTUCKY United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc. Georgetown, KY 40324 usdfd.org usdfd.org@gmail.com 810-516-6560 MAINE Central Maine Adaptive Sports Auburn, ME 04210 cmasports.org info@lostvalleyski.com 207-784-1561 Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation Newry, ME 04261 maineadaptive.org info@maineadaptive.org 207-824-2440 MARYLAND Baltimore Adapted Recreation and Sports Sparks, MD 21152 barsinfo.org pam4bars@aol.com 478-227-7386 Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating Annapolis, MD 21409 crabsailing.org info@crabsailing.org 410-266-5722 Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS) Bethesda, MD 20810 sudsdiving.org sudsdiving@gmail.com 202-341-9750 Team River Runner, Inc. Rockville, MD 20853 teamriverrunner.org joebuck@teamriverrunner.org 703-532-6070 MASSACHUSETTS AccesSport America Acton, MA 01720 accessportamerica.org ross@accessportamerica.org 978-264-0985 CAPEable Adventures, Inc. Sandwich, MA 02563 capeableadventures.org cmbautz@capeableadventures.org 508-566-3298 MICHIGAN Cannonsburg Challenged Ski Association Ada, MI 49301 skiccsa.org info@skiccsa.org 616-847-3060 Michigan Adaptive Sports West Bloomfield, MI 48323 michiganadaptivesports.org michiganadaptivesports@ gmail.com MINNESOTA Courage Kenny Sports and Recreation Minneapolis, MN 55408 couragecenter.org CKRISportsrecreation@allina.com 612-775-2277 US Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association Minneapolis, MN 55427 powerhockey.com info@powerhockey.com 763-535-4736 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 22 CHAPTER LISTING MISSOURI Disabled Athlete Sports Association St. Peters, MO 63376 dasasports.org kellyb@dasasports.org 636-477-0716 Midwest Adaptive Sports Dearborn, MO 64439 midwestadaptivesports.org midwestadaptivesports@gmail.com 816-287-2011 MONTANA DREAM Adaptive Recreation, Inc. Whitefish, MT 59937 dreamadaptive.org info@dreamadaptive.org 406-862-1817 Eagle Mount Billings Billings, MT 59101 eaglemount.us info@eaglemount.us 406-969-2949 Eagle Mount Bozeman Bozeman, MT 59715 eaglemount.org eaglemount@eaglemount.org 406-586-1781 Eagle Mount Great Falls Great Falls, MT 59403 eaglemount.net eagle_mountgf@eaglemount.net 406-454-1780 NEW HAMPSHIRE AbilityPLUS, Inc. Jackson, NH 03846 abilityplus.org info@abilityplus.org 800-287-8415 x104 Granite State Adaptive Mirror Lake, NH 03853 gsadaptivesports.org granitestateadaptive@gmail.com 603-387-1167 Lakes Region Disabled Sports at Gunstock Gilford, NH 03247 gunstockadaptive.org aski@lrdisabledsports.org 603-737-4365 New England Disabled Sports Lincoln, NH 03251 nedisabledsports.org info@nedisabledsports.org 603-745-9333 New England Handicapped Sports Association Mt. Sunapee Resort, NH 03255 nehsa.org info@nehsa.org 603-763-9158 Northeast Passage Durham, NH 03824 nepassage.org northeast.passage@unh.edu 603-862-0070 Waterville Valley Adaptive Sports Waterville Valley, NH 03215 watervilleadaptive.com info@watervilleadaptive.com 603-236-8311 NEW JERSEY Disabled Sports USA – South Jersey Chapter Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 irskill@aol.com US Adaptive Sailing Brick, NJ 08724 NEW MEXICO Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico Santa Fe, NM 87501 adaptiveski.org director@adaptiveski.org 505-995-9858 Ski Apache Adaptive Sports Ruidoso, NM 88355 skiapacheadaptivesports.com saadaptive@gmail.com 575-464-3193 NEW YORK Adaptive Sports Foundation Windham, NY 12496 adaptivesportsfoundation.org info@adaptivesportsfoundation.org 518-734-5070 Adaptive Sports Program – Helen Hayes Hospital West Haverstraw, NY 10993 helenhayeshospital.org/ hospital-services/adapted- sports-and-recreation castellucciom@ helenhayeshosp.org 845-947-3187 ASPIRE, Inc. (Amputee Program) Hartsdale, NY 10530 aspirenewyork@gmail.com Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana, Inc. West Henrietta, NY 14486 adaptivecanoeing.org president@adaptivecanoeing.org Greek Peak Adaptive Snowsports Vestal, NY 13850 gpadaptive.org jmcappellett@yahoo.com 607-785-8101 Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program Ellicottville, NY 14731 lounsburyadaptive.org ski@lounsburyadaptive.org 716-699-3504 Move Along Oswego, NY 13126 www.movealonginc.org Julie_livesey@movealonginc. org 315-729-8535 STRIDE, Inc. Rensselaer, NY 12144 stride.org info@stride.org 518-598-1279 Western New York Adaptive Water Sports Grand Island, NY 14072 wnyadaptivewatersports.org info@wnyadaptivewatersports.org 716-553-7670 NORTH CAROLINA Bridge II Sports Durham, NC 27705 bridge2sports.org Ashley@bridge2sports.org 866-880-2742 OHIO Adaptive Adventure Sports Coalition (TAASC) Powell, OH 43065 taasc.org info@taasc.org 614-389-3921 Three Trackers of Ohio Middleburg Heights, OH 44130 3trackers.org md1053@aol.com 216-229-0291 OKLAHOMA UCO Sports & Events Edmond, OK 73034 uco.edu/wellness/sr/endeavor kshaklee1@uco.edu OREGON Happy Trails Riding Center West Linn, OR 97068 happytrailsridingcenter.org happytrailsridingcenter@ yahoo.com 503-351-0134 Oregon Adaptive Sports Bend, OR 97701 oregonadaptivesports.org info@oregonadaptivesports.org 541-306-4774 Oregon Disability Sports Portland, OR 97227 oregondisabilitysports.net trisha@oregondisabilitysports.net 503-241-0850 PENNSYLVANIA Blue Ridge Adaptive Snow Sports (BRASS) Carroll Valley, PA 17320 brasski.org info@brasski.org 717-642-8282 HOPE Network Pittsburgh, PA 15238 hopenetwork-pa.org hsports@city-net.com 412-826-2703 Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports Philadelphia, PA 19130 centeronline.com contact.us@centeronline.com 215-765-5118 Three Rivers Adaptive Sports Pittsburgh, PA 15238 traspa.org 412-848-8896 Two Top Mountain Adaptive Sports Foundation Mercersburg, PA 17236 twotopadaptive.org bill@twotopadaptive.org 717-507-7668 RHODE ISLAND Access2Adventure Tiverton, RI 02878 info@access2adventure.net SOUTH CAROLINA Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital Greenville, SC 29605 ghs.org/rcp dfitzmorris@ghs.org 864-455-7711 SOUTH DAKOTA Black Hills Regional Ski for Light, Inc. Rapid City, SD 57709 bhsfl.org bhskiforlight@gmail.com 605-341-3626 TENNESSEE Sports, Arts & Recreation of Chattanooga (SPARC) Chattanooga, TN 37343 jhightower@ctiengr.com 423-596-5268 TEXAS Operation Comfort San Antonio, TX 78209 operationcomfort.org info@operationcomfort.org 210-826-0500 UTAH Common Ground Outdoor Adventures Logan, UT 84321 cgadventures.org cg@cgadventures.org 435-713-0288 National Ability Center Park City, UT 84060 discovernac.org info@discovernac.org 435-649-3991 VERMONT AbilityPLUS, Inc. Mt Snow, VT 05356 abilityplus.org info@abilityplus.org 800-287-8415 x103 Adaptive Martial Arts Association, Inc. (AMAA) Pittsford, VT 05763 adaptivemartialarts.org contact@adaptivemartialarts.org 802-747-8184 Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center Manchester Center, VT 05255 bartcenter.com bartcenter@comcast.net 802-824-5522 Friends of Stowe Adaptive Sports Hyde Park, VT 05655 stoweadaptive.org info@stoweadaptive.org 802-279-1079 Northeast Disabled Athletic Association Burlington, VT 05408 disabledathletics.org contactNDAA@ disabledathletics.org 802-862-6322 Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports Association Killington, VT 05701 vermontadaptive.org director@vermontadaptive.org 802-786-4991 VIRGINIA Adventure Amputee Camp Winchester, VA 22602 adventureamputeecamp.org adventureamputeecamp@ gmail.com Sportable Richmond, VA 23220 sportable.org info@sportable.org 804-340-2991 Wintergreen Adaptive Sports Wintergreen, VA 22958 wintergreenadaptivesports.org executivedirector.was@gmail.com 434-325-2007 WASHINGTON Footloose Sailing Association Seattle, WA 98122 footloosedisabledsailing.org footloosedisabledsailing.org/ contact-us 206-382-2680 Outdoors for All Foundation Seattle, WA 98115 outdoorsforall.org info@outdoorsforall.org 206-838-6030 WASHINGTON, D.C. DC Fire Fighters Burn Foundation Washington, DC 20017 dc°urnfoundation.org Jason@dcffburnfoundation.org 202-528-3898 WEST VIRGINIA Challenged Athletes of West Virginia Snowshoe, WV 26209 cawvsports.org dbegg@snowshoemountain.com 304-572-6708 WISCONSIN Southeastern Wisconsin Adaptive Ski Program Cedarburg, WI 53012 sewasp.org info@sewasp.org 414-226-8375 WYOMING Teton Adaptive Sports, Inc. Jackson, WY 83001 tetonadaptivesports.com info@adaptivesports.com 307-699-3554 23 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 CHAPTER LISTING Chapter Events CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 24 MOUNTAIN MOAB MANIA OFF-ROAD ARM BIKE CAMP MOAB, UTAH Telluride Adaptive Sports(TASP) will host its annual o¤- road arm bike adventure Oct. 1-6. This epic trip in beautiful red rock country will allow you to get your dirt on. For those with physical disabilities who desire a challenging, yet rewarding athletic experience in a gorgeous destination, this is the camp for you. Join us for three days of mountain biking on world famous trails, experiencing views of sandstone formations, natural bridges, and canyons. This trip is all- inclusive and fully guided with bike manufacturers like ReActive Adaptations as a partner on-camp. TASP is the only adaptive sports program commercially permitted to guide on Moab’s finest trail. While o¤-road cycling experience is not necessary, a reasonably high fitness level is required as the activities will be physically demanding. This program is generously funded by the Dralla Foundation. Participation in Moab Mania costs $675 per person, which covers the cost of all permits, food, ground transportation, activities, and equipment. TASP has scholarships available for interested participants. To register contact Tim McGough at 970-728-3865, email programs@tellurideadaptivesports.org or visit tellurideadaptivesports.org. MILITARY PROGRAMS WITH STEAMBOAT ADAPTIVE RECREATIONAL SPORTS STEAMBOAT, COLORADO STARS (Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports) is continuing its very successful STARS & Stripes Camp series by o¤ering two events in August and September. The first is our STARS and Stripes Heroes Camp, designed for injured veterans of all eras and conflicts. The second is our STARS & Stripes Women’s Camp, designed for female veterans of all eras and conflicts. Both o¤er the opportunity for veterans to experience the healing process in Steamboat through camping, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, zip lining, and other outdoor activities while providing the chance to forge lifelong friendships with other veterans. In addition, STARS is o¤ering two opportunities for veterans to experience Lake Powell on a 75-foot houseboat. Aug. 17-21: STARS and Stripes Heroes Camp Aug. 25-30: Men’s Veterans’ Camp at Lake Powell Aug. 31-Sept. 4: STARS and Stripes Women’s Camp Sept. 15-20: Women’s Veterans’ Camp at Lake Powell For more information visit steamboatstars.com CHAPTER EVENTS MOUNTAIN 25 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 FALL PROGRAMMING WITH THE NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED DENVER Get outside this fall with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). Kayak and canoe on mountain lakes or rivers, camp under a star-filled sky, learn basic horse care, or join our climbing academy. The NSCD has something for everyone at every ability level. Aug. 10-14: Summer Sports Sampler Day Camp Aug. 13: Access Summer Fun camp for adults with physical challenges or brain injuries Aug.-Sept.: Mountain Canoe/Kayak Programs (various dates) Aug.-Sept.: Mountain River Rafting/Inflatable Kayak (various dates) Aug.-Sept.: Camping (various dates) Aug.-Sept.: Therapeutic Horse Riding (various dates) Aug.-Sept.: NSCD Rock Climbing Academy (various dates) Aug.-Sept.: Outdoor Whitewater Sessions (various dates) For more information about programs, visit nscd.org. GREAT NORTHERN ADAPTIVE POWDER SESSION WHITEFISH, MONTANA Do you dream of laying down endless vertical lines, bursting flu¤y pillows of cold smoke powder, and getting your adaptive shred in Montana? Dream Adaptive Recreation and Great Northern Powder Guides are proud to present this backcountry experience with 12,000 vertical feet per day. In this week-long Cat-Skiing/Snowboarding Session, you will receive professionally guided back country skiing/ snowboarding service along with amenities and hosting that cater to powder hounds with disabilities. This session is for independent intermediate to advanced skiers and riders. Previous powder experience is helpful. Feb. 27-March 5, 2016: Great Northern Adaptive Powder Session (7 night stay, 5 days skiing/snowboarding) For more information contact Lucas Grossi at 406-890-8348 or originalgimp@gmail.com. COMMON GROUND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES LOGAN, UTAH Common Ground Outdoor Adventures o¤ers all-inclusive adapted adventures for people of all abilities. Summer and fall programming for people with physical disabilities includes two multi-day white-water rafting trips in the red rocks of Southern Utah and our annual Logan Canyon trip enjoying water-skiing, horseback riding, beach time, and interactive theatre. Aug. 9-15: White-Water Rafting Camp, free for wounded military Aug. 26-28: Annual Logan Canyon Adventure for people of all abilities Sept. 8-12: Inflatable Kayak Camp, free for wounded military Nov. 2015: Annual Southern Utah National Park Camp for people of all abilities For more information, call 435-713-0288 or email programs@cgadventures.org. Photo courtesy of Dirt Myth photography CHAPTER EVENTS MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 26 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WITH BRECKENRIDGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO For more than 38 years, the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) has been providing empowering outdoor experiences to people of all abilities. Fall programs include a variety of outdoor adventure trips in and around Breckenridge. We will begin taking reservations at our Adaptive Ski Program for the winter 2015/16 ski season in August. Aug. 1-7: Challenge by Choice Adventure Retreat for people with TBI Aug. 2-9: Heroic Families Colorado River Trip for disabled warriors & family Aug. 15-21: Challenge by Choice Adventure Retreat for people with TBI Aug. 28-Sept. 1: Adventures Within for adults with MS Sept. 2-6: Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado – Ruby & Horsethief Canyon Canoe Trip Sept. 11-14: Challenge by Choice Creative Minds Retreat for people with TBI Sept. 18-21: Outdoor Active Summer Retreat for adults with Parkinson’s disease For more information on all programs visit boec.org. FALL PROGRAMMING AT THE NATIONAL ABILITY CENTER PARK CITY, UTAH The National Ability Center o¤ers year-round sports, recreation, and educational programs for individuals, families, and groups of all ages. Year- round programs include aquatics, indoor climbing, sled hockey, equine-assisted activities, and biathlon. This fall, participants can also try out archery, road cycling, mountain biking, paddle sports, and water-skiing (weather dependent). In addition, we can design a custom event or program for yourself, friends, family, or a special group. Call our Groups and Custom Programs department at 435-648-3991 ext. 630. Events can be a single day or multiple days, and may include local transportation and lodging. Aug. 14: Summer Program Field Day (horse show, archery, paddle sports & climbing wall) Aug. 22: Summit Challenge (18-, 52-, 102-mile road cycling routes) Sept. 3-4: Para-Triathlon Camp Sept. 17-20: VA Competition Archery Camp Sept. 20: Sundance waterfall bike & picnic For more information, visit discovernac.org. CORRECTION In our Spring issue, we inadvertently used an incorrect photo with the Chapter Event News from Three Rivers Adaptive Sports. The image actually was from Vermont Adaptive’s Long Trail Century Ride. Our apologies to Vermont Adaptive and Three Rivers Adaptive Sports. PERFORMANCE  QUALITY  RELIABILITY TOLL FREE: 800.279.1865  www.trsprosthetics.com Better 27 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 CHAPTER EVENTS MIDWEST WARFIGHTER SPORTS SUMMER EVENTS WITH TAASC COLUMBUS, OHIO The Adaptive Adventures Sports Coalition (TAASC) will close out the summer with two Warfighter Sports events open to veterans or others within driving distance of Columbus, Ohio. The Thrivent Financial Pedal, Paddle and Picnic will be held Sept. 19 in Columbus followed by the Veterans Fishing Tourney Sept. 20. Adaptive hand and foot cycles are available for loan for the Pedal event. Courses are outlined for neighborhood cruisers and distance riders. Support riders are provided. All kayaking equipment, custom outfitting, and introductory lessons are available for the paddling activity. Additional activities on Saturday include disc golf, fishing from shore, and archery. A bass club provides boats and all gear for the Sunday fishing event. Summer event highlights include: Sept. 19: Thrivent Financial Pedal, Paddle and Picnic Sept. 20: Veterans Fishing Tourney For more information, and additional opportunities in central Ohio, visit taasc.org or contact info@taasc.org. COURAGE KENNY CLASSIC WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT MINNEAPOLIS Join us for our 33rd annual Courage Kenny Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Hastings High School in Minnesota. Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute has hosted this tournament for more than 30 years with 12-16 Junior Division teams participating from across the nation. The 2015 Courage Kenny Classic will be composed of 10A, 10B, and Prep levels of play. Each attending team is guaranteed to play at least four games. We hope to see you in the land of 10,000 lakes this fall! Nov. 7-8: Courage Kenny Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Contact Cara Gulbronson at 612-775-2278 or cara.gulbronson@allina.com for more information. WORLD TRIATHLON GRANT FINAL CHAMPIONSHIPS CHICAGO The world’s most talented triathletes and paratriathletes will make their way to Chicago for the ITU World Triathlon Grant Final Championships Sept. 15-20. In addition to having its top athletes compete at the event, Chicago-based nonprofit Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club serves as the o²cial charity and presenting sponsor of the Paratriathlon Race. Serving as the Paratriathlon premiere event of the season for athletes in the hunt for a Paralympic spot, the Grand Final race is also open to non-elite athletes in the open age- group and open paratriathlon events. In conjunction with the race, Dare2tri will host An Evening2Inspire, a gala event including cocktails, dinner, and program, at Willis Tower Sept. 18. All event funds raised and donated will directly go to Dare2tri athletes and programs. To learn more, visit dare2tri.org/an-evening2inspire. I am Determination Adaptive cycling (road & mtn.), rock climbing, archery, water sports, equestrian, aquatics and more! 435.649.3991 www.discovernac.org I am PARK CITY, UT CHAPTER EVENTS EAST CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 28 GEAR UP FOR SLED HOCKEY & WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL OSWEGO, NEW YORK Move Along, Inc. will be hosting three preseason clinics for our CNY Flyers sled hockey team at local rinks. The CNY Flyers is a B class sled hockey team, which has placed 3rd in the USA Hockey Disability Festival the last two years. Our regular season with weekly practice sessions with regional games begins in late October. We will also be holding three clinics in wheelchair basketball as part of our preseason recruitment process for our Syracuse Flyers wheelchair basketball team in August, September, and October. This is an adult team that will travel to other clubs for games with weekly practice sessions. Our regular season will start in October. Also, enjoy our adaptive kayaking and handcycling in August and early September on alternating weekends. For details, visit movealonginc.org. LATE SUMMER WATER-SKIING OPPORTUNITIES SANDY HOOK, CONNECTICUT Leaps of Faith Adaptive Skiers has several late season water- skiing opportunities for a variety of athletes of all abilities. Events range from the Tournament of Champions, a weekend where athletes can show o¤ their water-ski skills, to a Waterski-A-Thon allowing participants to test their endurance on the water. Aug. 25-26: Warriors on the Water (water sports retreat for veterans) Aug. 28-29: Tournament of Champions (grassroots water-ski tournament – previous water-ski experience required) Oct. 3: Waterski-A-Thon (fundraiser – minimum pledge is $150) For more information, visit lofadaptiveskiers.org or call 203-246-0666. 2ND ANNUAL APRIL C. KAUFFMAN MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING ATLANTIC COUNTY, NEW JERSEY DSUSA – South Jersey Chapter is holding its 2nd Annual April C. Kau¤man Memorial Golf Outing in Atlantic County Sept. 25. Last year we had a number of golfers from around the country participate in our three-day event, culminating in the 18-hole golf outing. Many of the participating Warfighters brought their service dogs and specialized, adaptive golf equipment to Mays Landing Golf and Country Club. Aug. 1: Archery Training Clinic for severely disabled veterans Sept. 19-22: Golf Clinics at Wildwood Country Club for severely disabled veterans Sept. 25: April C. Kau¤man Memorial Golf Outing For more information, call 609-569-1169. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AT SPORTSABILITY OCALA/GAINESVILLE OCALA, FLORIDA Florida Disabled Outdoors Association invites you to enjoy everything from rock climbing to sit water-skiing, kayaking, tennis, scuba and much more at SportsAbility Ocala/ Gainesville. The program will be held Oct. 2-3, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The 7th annual SportsAbility provides people of all ages and abilities and their family and friends hands-on recreational activities to improve overall wellness at no cost thanks to community support and sponsors. Special recognition will be given to participating veterans for their service. To register, become a sponsor, or for more information, visit fdoa.org or contact the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association (FDOA) at info@fdoa.org or 850-201-2944. CHAPTER EVENTS EAST 29 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 TRIUMPH ON THE GREENS ADAPTIVE GOLF TOURNAMENT GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital will be hosting its 16th annual Triumph on the Greens Adaptive Golf Tournament Oct. 8 at the Furman University Golf Course in Greenville. This is a great day of golf for people with physical disabilities to get out and play with the rest of the community. Each participating team consists of three able- bodied golfers and one golfer with a disability. The tournament is captain’s choice and concludes with great food and prizes. The tournament is also a fundraising event with proceeds benefiting Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital’s year-round adaptive sports programs including golf, water- skiing, sled hockey, cycling, and sailing. To learn more or register, contact Danielle Fitzmorris at dfitzmorris@ghs.org or 864-455-7711. TEAM RIVER RUNNER DC BIATHLON WASHINGTON, D.C. Team River Runner will hold its 11th annual DC Biathlon Oct. 4. The biathlon consists of a 1.2 mile flat-water kayak or stand-up paddleboard leg followed by a three-mile walk, run or handcycle leg. All equipment is provided. Proceeds from this event are integral in allowing Team River Runner to provide health and healing paddle sports activities free of charge to wounded and disabled veterans. We hope you will join us in this awesome event! Check us out at teamriverrunner.org. SPORTABLE SUMMER/ FALL PROGRAMS RICHMOND, VIRGINIA Sportable will be hosting a handful of programs and special events this summer and fall. Events are available to a wide variety of individuals with disabilities, including youth, adults, and veterans. Aug. 4-Sept. 8: Tuesday Evening Adaptive Swimming Aug. 5: Sportable Athlete & Volunteer Appreciation BBQ Sept. 12-Nov. 14: Saturday Morning Road Racing Sept. 15-Oct. 20: Tuesday Afternoon Air Rifle (Veterans Only) Sept. 23-Dec. 2: Wednesday Evening Wheelchair Basketball Oct. 27-Dec. 1: Tuesday Evening Power Wheelchair Soccer For more information, contact info@sportable.org or call 804-340-2291. JOIN TEAM ADAPTIVE ADVENTURES FOR THE LAST BIKE RIDES OF THE SUMMER COLORADO & ILLINOIS The Adaptive Adventures Challenge Tour is a great opportunity for cyclists of all ages, abilities, and experience levels to socialize, get active, and raise funds for individuals with disabilities to cycle, climb, kayak, sail, ski, and water-ski. This is the third year that Adaptive Adventures is hosting The Challenge Tour in both Colorado and Illinois. The Colorado Challenge Tour, Oct. 3, allows riders to choose from 10k, 50k, 70k, and 100k courses that stretch from Bear Creek Lake Park and utilizes the wonderful Denver area bike paths to circumnavigate the southwest area of Denver with awesome views throughout the ride. The Illinois Challenge Tour, Sept. 20, o¤ers a similar experience with distances of 100, 70, 62, 50, and 25 miles. The courses stretch from Evanston to the scenic North Shore in Chicago. Both rides are supported with aid stations, bike mechanics, and a post race celebration and BBQ. For more information or to register, visit challengetourcolorado.org or challengetourillinois.org. Aug. 1-2: Ute Lake Water Sports Clinic – Logan, N. M. Aug. 3-7: Stars of Tomorrow Camp Trek – Libertyville, Ill. Aug. 15-22: Lake Powell Houseboat Trip – Lake Powell, Utah Aug. 31: Greg Reilly Memorial Golf Outing – Westminster, Colo. Sept. 11-13: Beyond Boundaries Adventure Camp – Savanna, Ill. Oct. 4-11: Lake Powell Kayak Trip, Lake Powell, Utah CHAPTER EVENTS MULTI REGION WHEELCHAIR TENNIS PROGRAM ADDED TO MAINE ADAPTIVE SUMMER SCHEDULE – GLOUCESTER, MAINE Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation is combining forces with VAST (Veterans Adaptive Sports & Training) to o¤er a wheelchair tennis program. The lead instructor will be John Pelletier, a long-time Maine Adaptive community member. The program will be o¤ered on select Fridays from 9 a.m. until noon at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester. All needed equipment and instruction are provided at no cost. The first half of the lesson will include drills focusing on building the fundamental skills of tennis. The second half of each lesson will include a match to try out the new skills. Space is limited. For more information, visit www.maineadaptive.org. CHAPTER EVENTS WEST CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 30 JOIN DISABLED SPORTS EASTERN SIERRA THIS SUMMER & FALL MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIFORNIA Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra/Paralympic Sport Mammoth Lakes is looking forward to more fun in the sun this fall! Our regular daily programming is open to all athletes (any age and any disability). We also o¤er some special events to wrap up your summer season! Events include Pedal~Paddle, the High Sierra Fall Century, and the Kamikaze Bike Games. Pedal~Paddle is a weekend event that includes cycling, paddling, camping, fishing, and cooking out. High Sierra Fall Century is an incredible community event rated by Bicycle Magazine as a “Top Ten Century.” This event draws over 1,000 riders for the 42-, 70- or 102- mile options. Finally, the Kamikaze Bike Games allow riders to challenge themselves on the fastest downhill in the world. Wednesdays thru Oct.: Summer Cycling Series (group rides) Aug. 7-9: Pedal~Paddle Campout Sept. 12: High Sierra Fall Century and Gran Fondo (42-, 70-, or 102-mile options) Sept. 24-27: Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games (kamikazebikegames.com) Nov. 12: Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Opening Day Space is limited so apply early! To apply for any of these camps or for more information about our daily programming, contact Maggie Palchak, 760-934-0791 or mpalchak@disabledsportseasternsierra.org. PLAN A CUSTOM EVENT WITH THE OUTDOORS FOR ALL FOUNDATION SEATTLE, WASHINGTON The Outdoors for All Foundation, based in Seattle, enriches the lives of thousands of children and adults with disabilities through outdoor recreation. Each year through its custom events program, Outdoors for All partners with a variety of community organizations, parks & recreation departments, hospitals, and schools. Outdoors for All brings the fun of outdoor recreation directly to these groups, utilizing its expertise and existing adaptive recreation programs. An activity or set of activities is then customized to the partnering group’s specific needs. Custom events may feature adaptive cycling, from the Outdoors for All’s fleet of over 100 cycles, kayaking, snowshoeing, rock climbing, and yoga. Enhance your group picnic, camp or other event with an Outdoors for All adaptive recreation custom event. For details, email programs@outdoorsforall.org or call 206-838-6030. LATE SUMMER ADVENTURES WITH DISABLED SPORTS USA FAR WEST TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA Disabled Sports USA Far West keeps the summer fun going, delivering unique and exciting programs every weekend in August. Join us for our adaptive flat-water paddling programs on renowned Lake Tahoe. For a good old-fashioned family day at the beach, Sierra Summer Sports days o¤er sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and more at Donner Lake. You can even put water-skiing on your list, as our adaptive water-skiing program gets people of all abilities skimming across a private lake in North Sacramento. Looking for something more extreme? Sign up for a once-in-a-lifetime 4WD adventure on the famous Rubicon Trail! Worn out from all the summer fun? Relax at Foam Fest, a fundraising event for Disabled Sports USA Far West. Enjoy live music and beer tasting at Squaw Valley Resort Sept. 5. Summer program highlights include: Aug. 1, 28, 29: Adaptive Flat-Water Paddling Aug. 7-9: Rubicon Trail 4WD Adventures Aug. 14-15: Sierra Summer Sports Camp (Sailing, Kayaking & Canoeing) Aug. 21-22: Water-skiing Sept. 5: Foam Fest – Fundraiser Visit DisabledSports.net for all the details, or call 530-581-4161. MARKETPLACE 31 CHALLENGE SUMMER 2015 For the first time, wheelchair users can own the quality of a BraunAbility conversion on a vehicle that personifies action, freedom, and independence. Built on the popular Ford Explorer chassis, the bold design of the MXV™ o…ers an innovative door operation, cantilevered seat bases for added maneuverability, tow package, and a sliding shifter to maximize space for the driver or passenger. The BraunAbility MXV™ o…ers their customers an accessible vehicle that reflects their own no-limits, push-the-boundaries attitude. NEW BRAUNABILITY ACTION VEHICLE A new feature will soon be available for Motion Control terminal devices (MC ETD and MC Hand ProPlus versions). • Force Limiting stops grasp force at ~2 lb. allowing the grasping of delicate objects and reducing the fear of injuring someone due to over-gripping. • Each “pulse” increases the gripping force by ~2 lb. • Auto Grasp detects a socket or electrode “slip,” and automatically increases grip force. Suggested L-Codes: L6881, L6882, L7009, & L7499. For more information and availability, contact Motion Control at 888-696-2767 or info@UtahArm.com. FLAG – Force LimitinG Auto GrAsp For MOTION CONTROL ETD AND HAND The Horizon™ foot brings College Park composite expertise to a carbon fiber foot design. The Horizon is constructed with aircraft-grade titanium components, allowing for additional durability and a high weight limit. Even with an ultra-low profile and ultra-light weight design, the dynamics of the foot provide superior energy return for high-impact K3 users. The rollover Enviroshell™ design, combined with the specially-engineered carbon composites, provide the perfect blend of comfort and ability for all activities. See the Horizon in action at www.youtube.com/CollegeParkInd. A NEW ELEMENT FROM COLLEGE PARK The Absolute Suspension Sleeve from Fillauer optimizes comfort, durability, and range of motion. The sleeve is made of thermoplastic elastomer and covered with a reinforced Lyrcra®-type material. The preflexed design allows maximum range of motion and alleviates posterior bunching when the knee is flexed. The Absolute Suspension Sleeve is available in multiple sizes and available in beige or black. For more information: 800-251-6398; 423-624-0946; P.O. Box 5189, 2710 Amnicola Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37406. ABSOLUTE SUSPENSION SLEEVE Experience the 3S80 running knee and 1E90 sprinter foot made exclusively to keep people with above-knee limb loss moving. Specially designed for running, the 3S80’s rotary hydraulic can withstand the impact of running but is dynamic enough to respond to di…erent running speeds. The 1E90 is available with different soles – one for track running and another for all-terrain running. Log onto ottobockus.com to find out more. OTTOBOCK RUNNING KNEE AND SPRINTER FOOT Dive into life! Adapt and overcome with ProCarve. Ottobock Lower Limb Prosthetics Ottobock USA @OttobockUS @OttobockUS