At the end of March, I had the opportunity to participate in the National Disabled Veteran's Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colorado, as a volunteer ski instructor. For an entire week, I taught disabled American war veterans between the ages of 23 and 86 (!) to ski with the help of various adaptive equipment.
The cameraderie and energy amongst instructors and participants was unparalleled. It is amazing what these people have experienced and how they have chosen to recover and continue to enjoy life to the fullest. Each one of my students had a special story and I am honored to have played a part in the physical and mental recovery process of someone with a traumatic brain injury, or to have enabled someone with a degenerative disease to get up on the mountain on two skis just one more time. And what a rewarding experience to see the smile on their faces and receive their praise and gratitude at the end of the day.
I look forward to being a part of this wonderful event every year for many more years. I've selected some photos below, but there are many more
photos on facebook (this link should be publicly accessible).
Joe and Uta with Angel.
Uta with Richard at midstation.
Peter with Al and snowboard guru Andy Finch.
The complete Minnesota gang (missing Dana; 16 of the nearly 200 instructors from all over the US)...
...and the usual suspects.
About the Winter Sports ClinicAbout the Courage Center Ski & Snowboard Program in Minnesota
So simple, yet the most beautiful words heard out of my almost 4-yr-old's mouth after I told him "no" for something. No tantrum. No negotiation. No repeated requests. Just "okay". And I have witnesses. Whose jaws dropped.
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