On January 12 to 16th the VA Adaptive Sports Program held the Annual Winter Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans at Mount Sunapee, NH. Everyone arrived on Monday, registered and were fitted for the equipment needed on the slopes. It was great to see old friends and volunteers who return year after year. We then loaded up on the bus and headed to the ice rink for a little fun playing sled hockey.
After returning from sled hockey, everyone got cleaned up and attended the Opening Ceremonies Banquet. It’s always great to dine with old friends and meet some new participants and volunteers. The participants were broken up into different teams and introduced to their team leaders and given their skiing schedule for the week. Once we all had our slope time scheduled we were able to schedule our alternate activities when not on the slopes.
The big fun started on Tuesday when everybody had their chance to get out and ski or do their choice of alternate activities. Some of the VA VIPs joined us and observed what the volunteers do, the different types of equipment used for each disability, and how they load us into the equipment to get us prepared to ski. Besides the skiing, the highlight was a pair of eagles who flew over and circled around for 15 minutes or so, observing us as we loaded and started heading to the chair lift. It was like mother nature treated The Winter Sports Clinic to a flyover.
I’d like to thank the NEPVA for their continued financial support of our members enabling us to attend the clinic and their generous support of the the overall program throughout the years.
In addition to our time on the slopes, we had great alternate indoor activities, including cardio drumming, pickleball, stretching/yoga and rock climbing at the Notch. Evening activities included creative arts and various games which were also played.
After skiing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning I decided to try rock climbing Thursday afternoon. They have a great setup for adaptive climbers along with various climbing walls with different degrees of difficulty for the walking participants at The Notch. Everyone that tried the rock climbing got a great workout I’m sure, I know I did.
Thursday evening we all gathered for a good meal and the Closing Ceremonies with Chief Matt Edwards as the emcee. I understand Matt finally got his chance to ride in a sit-ski Thursday afternoon which he enjoyed and now knows the thrill us wheelers get. The award winners were announced and the Teams returned their Guide Ons to be used again next year.
Many thanks to the NEHSA staff and all the volunteers that make this week possible for us to enjoy some great winter recreation. If you have never attended it is worth spending the week and learning about all the opportunities available to stay active and healthy through our New England winters. Over the years we have had quite a variety of different activities. The first clinic was held January 1998, since then many different alternate activities have been added besides the skiing.
This years Award Winners:
Tony Santilli Founders Award: Dr. Orlando
Frank Weldon Award: Betsy Luscinski
Unsung Hero Award: Ray Luscinski
Veterans Choice Award: Ellen Mitchell
Blood Sweat and Tears Award: Ryan Sandlin
Most Dangerous Award: Thomas Ferland
Human Snowplow Award: Ed Dusick
Rookie of the Year Award: Ernest
Ken Medeiros Phoenix Award: Carlos Lopes
Dan Cantlin Best Instructor Award: Dustin Soroka
Jim Koss Award: Everett
Top Gun Award: Brian
Most Improved Award: Claudia
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