The feeling of skiing or snowboarding down a mountain has been compared to flying – and on a powder day to floating. Once you've found your rhythm and your mind and body are in harmony, enter the “Zone,” a meditative state with real physical and mental benefits. It's a feeling that everyone should experience – regardless of their physical abilities.
To that end, there are hundreds of winter sports programs that specialize in getting people of all abilities on the slopes. These programs often take place in or near ski resorts and rely on local skiers and snowboarders (many of whom use adaptive snow equipment themselves) to get newcomers onto the snow.
“Great programs are about exposing athletes to quality programs, with instructors or coaches who are willing to find what works best for each athlete. “Sometimes that means adjusting methods or equipment from week to week, and sometimes it means sending an athlete to a program or club that offers instruction more aligned with that athlete’s goals,” said Eileen Carey, US director Paralympics Nordic Skiing, in an email interview with Travel + Leisure.
To determine the quality of a program, adaptive skiers and snowboarders and their families can turn to Move United, a nonprofit organization that has helped people with physical disabilities participate in sports since 1956. According to Move United's website, they work with over 100 adaptive snow sport programs across the country – from California to New Hampshire. To be included on the list, Glenn Merry, executive director of Move United, told T+L that organizations must go through “a rigorous membership process” and “have a multi-year history of delivering programs.”
You can search for adaptive winter sports programs near your ski resort on the Move United website or base your entire trip on one of the Move United partner programs highlighted below.
Related: 20 best ski resorts around the world
National Sports Center for the Disabled – Denver, Colorado
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The National Sports Center for the Disabled is based in Denver but offers downhill skiing and snowboarding lessons at the nearby Winter Park Resort. It's our favorite Colorado program because it's been around for over 50 years and started as an adaptive ski program – founded by a man who started training young amputees in 1970. Today, the sports center offers access to everything from rock climbing to sailing, in addition to continuing its excellent adaptive ski and snowboard programming.
Merry points out that NSCD also has a competition program, making it a good place for athletes to compete in skiing and snowboarding.
National Ability Center – Park City, Utah
Courtesy of Visit Utah
Part of what sets the National Ability Center apart is its location; It is 10 minutes from Park City Mountain (the largest ski resort in the US) and less than 15 minutes from Deer Valley Resort. The NAC takes participants to both mountains, along with instructors who, according to their website, are “trained in adaptive techniques for 2-lane, 3-lane, 4-lane, monoski, bi-ski, snowslide, ski-bike, etc. “Snowboarding and guiding skiers and riders with visual impairment or blindness.” The NAC ski and snowboard program also works with people with intellectual disabilities and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
As with all of the programs on this list, a day of skiing and snowboarding often leads to a return visit in the summer to try a summer sport. According to Merry from the NAC, “A lot of people came to ski and snowboard, and now it has developed into a summer sport with horse riding, cycling and trekking.”
Related: How to plan a ski trip to Park City
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Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports – Killington, Vermont
Courtesy of Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports' strength lies in its offerings. In the winter, they offer ski and snowboard lessons seven days a week at Pico Mountain Ski Resort, Sugarbush Resort and Bolton Valley Resort. And if your dream destination or sport is not listed in their offer, they say: “We can make it happen!” Contact us to create your own snow adventure.”
The Vermont program began as a small ski program in 1987 and has since grown into the largest adaptive snow sports program in the state. The year-round program includes, among other things, mountain biking, sailing, paddle sports and indoor climbing.
Reach Tahoe – Alpine Meadows, California
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It would be a mistake to leave Achieve Tahoe, the founding chapter of Move United, off this list. Achieve Tahoe was founded in 1967 by Jim Winthers, a World War II veteran of the 10th Mountain Division. The program was created because Winthers, who was also director of the ski school, helped a group of Vietnam veterans learn to ski. Since there was no adaptive sports equipment, the veterans adapted their own equipment to get down the mountain safely.
This can-do attitude continues to this day. On their website, Achieve Tahoe says, “With our teaching techniques and specialized equipment, we can help virtually anyone with any disability,” making their program particularly inclusive.
Related: Guide to Visiting Lake Tahoe
Adaptive Sports Foundation – Windham, New York
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The Adaptive Sports Foundation in New York State isn't the biggest or fanciest program on this list, but it may be the most accessible. Located less than a three-hour drive from New York City, the adaptive sports center brings equipment and coaches to East Rutherford, New Jersey (45 minutes from the city by bus) during the summer.
“Windham [the Adaptive Sports Foundation] is actually coming to the American Dream mall in New Jersey. They teach kids there who have never been in the snow,” Merry said.
That's perhaps the best thing about adaptive winter sports programs: They meet people where they are. “People start where they get on the hill and can adapt to their own desires,” Merry said. Carey of the US Paralympics confirms: “Once the athletes are established and have set the goal of qualifying for the Winter Paralympics, we want to integrate them into cross-country skiing or biathlon clubs across the country and train alongside their peers.” She have their sights set on the Olympics.”
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