ASF Readies For Another Fun-Filled Winter

WINDHAM — The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) kicks off its 41st winter of providing life-changing skiing and snowboarding opportunities to people with disabilities this Saturday, December 14 at Windham Mountain Club.

“We’re looking forward to another great winter season of empowering lives,” ASF Executive Director John Iannelli said. “This organization is so important to the Windham community and the population that we serve. We’ve gotten some early-season snowfall and the folks at Windham Mountain Club have been working extremely hard to create an elevated experience for its guests, so we’re excited to see our students’ smiling faces as they hit the slopes, some for the first time ever.” 

From the middle of December to the middle of March, the ASF hosts adaptive ski and snowboard lessons every weekend, while weekday lessons are available beginning in the final week of December. A student can be signed up for a half-day lesson, choosing between the morning or afternoon session, or a full-day lesson. Lesson availability is based on the availability of the organization’s volunteer instructors. Weekend lesson reservations can be made 30 days in advance on the organization’s website, while midweek lessons can be reserved via phone by calling 518-734-5070. 

As well as daily lessons, the ASF offers a competition program and a recreational program, the ASF Sliders, for those adaptive athletes who are more experienced on the slopes. The ASF’s Competition Program provides coaching, mentoring, technique development and tactics training for athletes with physical disabilities (Paralympic eligible) and intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics/ United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association). Through hard work and guided coaching, the ASF Race Team athletes earn the opportunity to participate in local, regional and national competitions.

The ASF Sliders program provides a season-long program for skiers and snowboarders whose aspirations are more recreational and social in nature. The Sliders learn how physical activity, good nutritional habits, and a positive outlook impacts their health through a coordinated student-first coaching philosophy shared by the instructors.

Along with the on-snow activities, the ASF has several fundraising events occurring this winter in Windham, including its annual wine tasting and auction on December 27 at the Wintergreen Club and its Awareness Weekend concert, featuring the band, “The Nerds” on January 18 at the Windham Mountain Club base lodge. More information about these fundraising events will be made available at www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org.

About the Adaptive Sports Foundation

For over 40 years the ASF has been providing sports and recreation opportunities to thousands in the disabled community. Since then, it has grown into what it is today, an organization that provides year-round services out of its own slope-side lodge, the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center. All this has been accomplished over the years thanks to many donors and an impressive legion of volunteers, who can be seen in their iconic green jackets sliding down the snow-white slopes at Windham Mountain Club. 

The Adaptive Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides profound and life changing experiences for children and adults with physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities and chronic illnesses through outdoor physical activity, education, support and community. If you’d like to help support the ASF’s mission of “empowering lives through adaptive sports”, please visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org.