For the last eight years, BSF Alpine Program Director Jason Moore has made the trip to Colorado to help coach at Ski Spectacular, one of the nation's largest winter sports festivals for people with disabilities, hosted by Disabled Sports USA.

In early December, Jason spent a week at Beaver Run Resort in Colorado as co-director for their national race camp.

The programs offered during this week-long event include learn to ski and snowboard lessons, a week-long race camp, Level I Race (Ski Spec Challenge Race), Nordic skiing, free clinics (in nordic skiing, biathlon, curling, and sled hockey), PSIA National Adaptive Academy for Instructors, banquets, and other social/networking events. The title sponsor of the event is The Hartford Financial Services Group.

The Hartford Ski Spectacular strengthens and expands adaptive snow sports programs in communities throughout the U.S. and helps identify and train youth, wounded warriors, and others with disabilities who strive to be winter Paralympians. A week of ski and snowboard race training prepares athletes for national and international competitions.

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I addition, there are participants from across the U.S .and Service Men and Women from the U.S. and the U.K.  Participants may have endured traumatic injury, birth defects, Traumatic Brain Injury, Boston bombing survivors, Las Vegas shooting survivors, and more. They also host wounded warriors returning to sport after losing limbs, eyesight, enduring psychological and emotional trauma, and more.

As co-director of the race camp, Jason organizes a "learn to race" component and an advanced component as well.  One goal is to offer a new experience for those athletes that have experienced some recreational ski and snowboard component.  The second goal is to offer a great training opportunity for advanced alpine and snowboard athletes vying for a spot on the National Team and U.S. Paralympic Team.  

Participating in events like this, Jason says, is a good reminder of what skiing is all about. He'd like to encourage more BSF athletes make the connection and volunteer with the local Eagle Mount program.