As part of a week of skiing and celebration, 25 active-duty U.S. soldiers and marines will hit the slopes Wednesday, March 17, Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20 for the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp at Disabled Sports USA Far West, located at Lake Tahoe’s Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, for ski and snowboard lessons. 

The Wounded Warrior Ability Ski/Snowboard Camp was established during spring, 2009 through a partnership between the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project and Disabled Sports USA Far West.  For a second year, soldiers disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan will visit Disabled Sports from the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System; the Naval Medical Center, San Diego; and the Naval Health Clinic, Hawaii at Pearl Harbor – three major rehabilitation centers for service members who have been injured or disabled.  Ski and snowboard instruction at Disabled Sports is part of their rehabilitation program.
 
“It’s important that we reach recently disabled service members early in the rehabilitation process,” said Haakon Lang-Ree, Program Director at Disabled Sports.  Disabled Sports specializes in ski/snowboard instruction for students with physical and mental disabilities; and the visiting military students have all incurred disabilities during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan ranging from limb loss to brain trauma.  “It’s important to expose them early to what they can do.  Last spring was the inaugural Wounded Warrior Camp at Alpine Meadows and the soldiers and marines who participated were skiing and snowboarding like pros by the last day.  We’re excited to host another camp this March,” Lang-Ree added.
 
Disabled Sports and Wounded Warrior Project partner to support disabled service members
Disabled Sports works directly with the Wounded Warrior Project (or WWP), a nationwide foundation that offers assistance to severely injured and disabled service members.  Some of the many WWP programs provide rehabilitation through outdoor adventure, including skiing and snowboarding.  With a mission to provide access to unique, direct programs, WWP sought the expertise of the Disabled Sports USA Far West at Alpine Meadows.
 
Disabled Sports started by war veterans more than 40 years ago
Teaching disabled service members to ski in 2010 has brought the mission of Disabled Sports full-circle.  The chapter was founded by the World War II 10th Mountain Division in 1967 in order to offer support and rehabilitation to service members disabled during the Vietnam Conflict.  Today, Disabled Sports continues to offer ski instruction to disabled service members as well as any student living with paraplegia, quadriplegia, amputation, autism, multiple sclerosis, visual impairment, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, head injuries, and muscular dystrophy.  “We’re very fortunate to be partners with Disabled Sports, for not only the Ability Bash and Celebration; but for all of the programs the center offers throughout winter,” said Deanna Gescheider, Alpine Meadows director of marketing and sales.  “Disabled Sports and Alpine Meadows make a great team by making skiing and snowboarding accessible to anyone with a sense of adventure,” she added.
 
A full week of Disabled Sports USA Events
In addition to the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp, Disabled Sports has scheduled a full week of skiing, snowboarding, racing, and parties – all open to the public – from March 16 through March 21.
 
Friday, March 19 – The Phil Bocks Memorial Ability Challenge ski race will team donors, sponsors, and disabled skiers for a fun day of ski racing and on-hill activities.  An après ski party and awards presentation follows in the Alpine Meadows Base Lodge.  A former resident of Truckee, California, Marine Corps Sergeant Bocks was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2007.  “The Phil Bocks Memorial Ability Challenge race is our way of recognizing the ultimate sacrifice made by Phil as well as all fallen warriors,” Lang-Ree stated.  Race registration is open to all.  Call Disabled Sports at 530.581.4161 to ask about registration fees or to register a team of four today.
 
Saturday, March 20 – The 17th Annual Ability Bash has been known as one of Lake Tahoe’s premier fundraising events.   This year’s celebration will offer guests an evening of gourmet cuisine, live music, and a silent auction starting at 7pm at the Alpine Meadows lodge.  Individual tickets are $100; and V.I.P. tables for 10 can also be purchased.  Call Disabled Sports at 530.581.4161 or visit DisabledSports.net to purchase tickets today.

 
To learn more about Disabled Sports USA at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, visit DisabledSports.net or call 530.581.4161.  To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit WoundedWarriorProject.org.