ACTIVE ADAPTIVE CHALLENGE

This summer TAS is challenging all of the adaptive athletes in the greater Jackson Hole area to try new activities, get outdoors, and be active!!

The active adaptive challenge is a chance for local athletes to keep track of how often they           get exercise in a fun and intrinsically motivating fashion.

All athletes will get a white Teton Adaptive Sports wristband on which they can track their progress and get immediate feedback on what they have accomplished.

There will be five broad categories: Hiking, Biking, Climbing, Stretching, and paddling  in which athletes can be checked off for completing at TAS events or on their own time.

To complete a category all athletes have to do is try that activity on for size and see how it fits.

On the TAS  wristband the five categories will be represented,but athletes can track ALL of their summer exercise, big and small on the same wristband. The wristband reads TETON ADAPTIVE SPORTS    BE ACTIVE CHALLENGE. All athletes have to do is color in each letter on the wristband any time they get exercise during the summer.

Parents and friends are welcomed and encouraged to participate along with the adaptive athletes.

At summers end we will have a grand celebration to congratulate all the athletes and their accomplishments.

CLICK ON THIS LINK: To find other local events and organizations that offer children’s exercise opportunities

-Nancy atop the Grand Teton after completing the first ever female blind ascent-

Nancy Stevens has a rare blend of enthusiasm, grit, and optimism that makes for an incredible adaptive athlete. Nancy is first and foremost an incredible climber, biker, and triathlete who just happens to be blind. Nancy doesn’t see obstacles in her path, figuratively and literally. She is always up for an adventure and most of the time she is the  one to suggest the adventure in the first place. Teton Adaptive Sports has been partnering with Nancy for the last three years and in the summer of 2013 we worked together with her and Exum Mountain Guides to complete the first female blind ascent of the Grand Teton. Imagine going to your front mailbox without sight, now picture climbing a 13,700 ft peak with boulders the size of trucks in your way. It has been a great honor partnering with Nancy on her past adventures and hopefully for many more to come.

                       -Henry teaching us all the lesson to just keep on smiling-

You would have to have a heart of stone to not smile anytime Henry Menolascino walked into a room. Henry is one of our longest running local athletes in the ski program. Year after year, Henry continues to develop his skills on the ski slope and soon enough we will not have any instructors that can keep up with him. Not only is Henry a skier, but he also took part in our bike learn to ride program, which means the training wheels are coming off and freedom is right around the corner. Henry is a frequent visitor to all TAS events and the day wouldn’t be complete without his smile around.

                           -Li doing what Li does best, just being awesome-

Li Dunbar isn’t your average child athlete. Although, you wouldn’t notice a difference between him and any athlete his age. The difference is that Li has taken a little bumpier road to develop his athletic talents than most. Li was adopted from China at the age of three with Bilateral Clubfoot and Bilateral Hip Dysplasia. Until his fourth birthday, Li wasn’t able to walk and only crawled. To date he has had 5 surgeries and continues with his physical therapy. However, now a days, you would never have guessed Li’s past as he races past you on downhill skis or paddles away from you in a kayak. According to Li’s Father, Steve Dunbar, “participating in TAS activities has been instrumental in his physical recovery and in developing Li’s self confidence.”  Teton Adaptive Sports is so privileged to be inspired by Li’s resilience and we always enjoy seeing his smile at any one of our events.

                               -Paul doing his best to let his guide keep up-

Paul Schafer would make any serious skier envious with his skills on the mountain. Paul can ski double black diamonds with ease and no conditions are too hard for him to conquer. Besides wearing a bright fluorescent bid saying “BLIND SKIER” on it, one would never be able to differentiate Paul from any other local skier on the hill. To Paul, any day on the mountain is a good day, just ask one of his ski guides who he drags out onto the slopes in any and all conditions. Paul is an eternal optimist whose love for skiing is seconded only by the positive aura that follow him around. A day skiing with Paul is similar to walking around with Tom Cruise, everyone wants to shake his hand and get a picture. Teton Adaptive Sports is lucky that Paul trusts us to guide him around the mountain because every time we are with him its a day to remember.

This extraordinary opportunity brings together adult skiers with physical disabilities for eight days of skiing in the Tetons. It begins with 4 days at Grand Targhee Resort, a day of rest and then 4 days at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The idea that instigated the camp was to provide a venue for solid intermediate skiers to make that significant jump to “all mountain” skiers. The combination of Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole creates a natural progression of terrain and conditions that accelerates the acquisition of new skills and attitudes. They demand taking risks, pushing limits, and inherently expanding abilities. There’s a self discovery process that takes place in the mountains and what happens on the ski hill becomes a metaphor for everyday life. What we learn in the end is that everything is possible!

The Wyoming Adaptive Ski Experience carries a theme of inclusion. Injured veterans and US military service personnel participate with civilian adaptive skiers, and at the JH segment the adaptive group is integrated with able bodied skiers at one of the renowned JH Mountain Sports Schools “Steep and Deep Camp”.

This very impactful experience is made possible through the combined efforts of:

TETON ADAPTIVE SPORTS                ADAPTIVE ADVENTURES                           DISABLED SPORTS/USA                     21st CENTURY WARRIORS                         GRAND TARGHEE RESORT               JACKSON HOLE MOUNTAIN RESORT                             HOMEWOOD SUITES  JACKSON HOLE     

For more information contact Teton Adaptive Sports at 307-699-3554 or tetonadaptive@aol.com                                                                       

<iframe src=”//player.vimeo.com/video/64772000″ width=”500″ height=”281″ frameborder=”0″ webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/64772000″>Wyoming Adaptive Ski Experience v4</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user5638015″>JHMSS</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

President:Ken Jern

Vice President: Kyle Burson

Secretary/Treasurer: Ian Levenson

Board Member:Joel Berman

Board Member:Audie Schultz

Board Member: Heather Hora

Board Member: Julie McNight

VOLUNTEER: Teton Adaptive Sports is always looking for help in both the summer and winter months. We can use help in a variety of different settings, including:

On the ski hill: assisting adaptive skiers and snowboarders to get the skills needed to shred on their own. Volunteer opportunities range from helping adaptive instructors on individual lessons, weekly lessons with at-risk youth, or for the more dedicated helping to support sit-down skiers navigate the mountain.

At our summer events: help adaptive athletes to embrace all that Jackson has to offer with our various summer activities. TAS could always use an extra set of hands to support our athletes in their athletic goals. Check out our summer page for a calendar of events.

FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING CONTACT:

Ryan Burke: ryanburke11@yahoo.com/307-203-0088

SUPPORT: If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help us develop and promote adaptive sports in the Tetons you may donate by clicking on the button below:

If you prefer to write a check payable to Teton Adaptive Sports, please mail it to our address:

Teton Adaptive Sports
P.O. Box 2894
Jackson, WY. 83001

You may specify that your gift be applied to any aspect of our program ie. Skiing, kayaking, rafting, cycling, scholarships, public awareness, etc

We will send you a confirmation letter on your gift with tax ID
Teton Adaptive Sports is a 501© 3 and a chapter of Disabled Sports/USA