Wounded Warrior ski camps at Alpine Meadows

As part of a week of skiing and celebration, 25 active-duty U.S. soldiers and marines will hit the slopes March 17, March 19 and March 20 for the Wounded Warrior Ability Camp at Disabled Sports USA Far West 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.

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.

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.

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 16-21.

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. 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.

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.