AAS In Crested Butte!

All of the preparation will soon pay off! Winter X Games 15 and our historic Adaptive Snowboarder X is only two days away. Before the event kicks off AAS Development Director/Co-Founder and Athlete Amy Purdy, AAS volunteer and Veteran Matt Colvin and myself made time to travel to Crested Butte, my old stomping ground during college, for a little pregame warm up. We're staying with AAS Coach and Friend Chris "Kep" Koeppe. Today, after some work, we spent a half day riding the hill and capturing a little bit of fresh footage. Crested Butte is the best mountain in the country! Hands down! It's been to long since my last visit and opportunity to lay down some lines on the steepest lift accessible terrain in the country. We found some fresh tracks and explored the parks.

We followed up a fantastic day of snow shredding with a 16" pizza pie at the Secret Stash; so good! We may venture out for a drink or two before nodding off. I love this town from top to bottom. If you haven't been, go! It's a wonderful total experience.

Daniel Gale

Adaptive Action Sports
Executive Director/Co-Founder
ESPN X Games Sports Organizer

Stay tuned for news from Winter X Games 15.

Adaptive Snowboarder X and Adaptive Snocross @ the ESPN X Games!!

Competitive adaptive snow-sports including snowmobiling and snowboarding -- or snowboarding for the disabled -- have progressed in leaps and bounds over the past decade. For adaptive snowboarding, with the Paralympics as an end goal, the United States has forged the way.
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In 2005, Adaptive Action Sports (AAS) -- a nationally- recognized California nonprofit that creates “action sports” opportunities for disabled athletes, worked with the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) to create a competitive “adaptive” division within the USASA schedule. The adaptive division grew and, in 2008, USASA -- in partnership with AAS -- hosted the first-ever Adaptive World Championship of Snowboarding. This event was sanctioned by the World Snowboard Federation (WSF). It marked a turning point for the growing sport, triggering worldwide involvement and fueling a push for the Paralympics.

In 2014, in Sochi Russia, the international adaptive snowboarding community hopes to bring a new sport to the Paralympic Games: Adaptive Boardercross or “Para-Snowboarding” as it has been called. To help prepare adaptive riders (including veterans) for this goal, AAS has created a Pipeline of programs and camps. The programs/camps are intended as a pathway through which a permanently disabled snowboarder progresses from one skill level to another. Novices may become recreational snowboarders, who may become competitive racers. Some will eventually emerge onto the Paralympic scene.

Through the AAS Pipeline, campers are given snowboard instruction at their appropriate skill level. They are introduced -- and given access -- to USASA regional events. They are encouraged to participate in the annual USASA National Competition. Pipeliners may elect to compete in a sanctioned World Cup/Championship event and ultimately, with some help, they may enter the Paralympic Games.

In support of the AAS Pipeline concept and the goal of seeing Adaptive Snowboarding included in the Paralympics, ESPN X Games is partnering with AAS, to host the first Adaptive Snowboarder X at Winter X Games 15 in Aspen, Colorado, on January 30th. Being recognized by, and included in, the ESPN Winter X Games – the premiere and largest “action sports” competition in the world – will provide adaptive snowboarding a major boost in the effort for Sochi 2014. Click here to read more from the ESPN Action Sports Website:

http://sports.espn.go.com/action/snowboarding/news/story?id=5960466

Additional to the Snowboarder X AAS will also act as the Co-Sports Organizer for the 3rd Adaptive Snowcross Finals at Winter X Games 15. This exciting side by side snowmobile race will feature 6 riders including Jim Wazny a single above knee amputee. Click here to read more about Jim on the ESPN Action Sports website:

http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/blog/_/post/5930571/adaptive-medalist-wazny-enables-others

Official Athlete Invite Lists

Adaptive Snowboarder X

Evan Strong
Ian Lockey
Dan Monzo
Tyler Mosher
Mike Shea
Keith Deutsch

Adaptive Snocross Finals

Jesse Gildea
Doug Henry
Chris Heppding
Mike Schultz
Jeff Tweet
Jim Wazny

For more information about AAS and our programs please visit www.adacs.org or contact Adaptive Action Sports at info@adacs.org. For more information regarding adaptive events at the ESPN X Games please contact X Games Sport Organizer and AAS Executive Director/Co-Founder Daniel Gale at daniel@adacs.org. For media and sponsorship inquiries please contact AAS Development Director and Co-Founder Amy Purdy.

Adaptive Action Sports “Learn to Ride and Race Camps"

Are you a disabled veteran? Do you have a competitive edge? Do you love snowboarding or have you always wanted to learn? This winter, AAS is offering Pipeline Learn to Ride and Race Snowboard Camps for military personnel and veterans who have been permanently disabled in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The first of these programs will be held at Sierra at Tahoe, a world renowned snowboard destination in South Lake Tahoe, CA, from February 24th to the 26th, 2011.

AAS has provided adaptive snowboard camps since 2005, leading the way for disabled athletes everywhere. Based on our unparalleled past achievements, these 2011 camps initiate AAS’ new and exciting Pipeline concept that provides a pathway to competitive snowboarding for any level rider. The 2011 camps will provide in-depth instruction by a Certified Snowboard Instructor on a USASA-sanctioned course for two days preceding an official USASA Regional race. Experienced AAS staff and volunteers, working under the direction of the Certified Instructor, will provide coaching. AAS volunteers and USASA “Adaptive” Gold Medalists Evan Strong and Amy Purdy will be on hand to offer advice. On the third day of camp, AAS campers will compete among themselves and will be encouraged, but not required, to participate in the “adaptive” division of the coinciding USASA competition. All competitions are intended to provide fun for, and build confidence in, Pipeline campers.

AAS Learn to Ride and Race Camps 2011

Program 1:
Feb 24-26, Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort, South Lake Tahoe (travel on 23 & 27) Boarder X

Program 2:
April 1-8, Copper Mountain Colorado, USASA Nationals

Please contact us for additional information regarding sign up and grant opportunities.

Pipeline Camps - info@adacs.org

AAS is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generous support of individuals and sponsorships. To learn more about the AAS mission, its incredible athletes, one of a kind programs and how you can help, please visit www.adacs.org or www.facebook.com/adaptiveactionsports. For general questions, please contact us at info@adacs.org or call 619-770-0240. For sponsorship or media inquiries, please contact AAS Development Director, Amy Purdy, at amy@adacs.org.

Photo courtesy of Aaron Shultz

Amy Purdy and AAS on CNN!!

Our snowboard programs got a jump-start December 5-11 when Amy Purdy, Daniel Gale and Evan Strong (all volunteer AAS staff) were invited by Disabled Sports – USA to coach wounded warriors attending the DSUSA Hartford Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, CO. It was honor to meet all of the attending veterans including Ryan Winter, Mathew Kinsey and Josh Wege who received one on one instruction by AAS staff.

Amy, a double below knee amputee herself, had the privilege of working with Josh, also a double below knee amputee. With years of riding experience under her belt and numerous insider tips she assisted Josh in exceeding his snowboarding goals for the week.

Besides helping disabled vets experience the thrill of snowboarding, AAS received an added bonus from its involvement in the Spectacular. CNN was on-site and filmed a segment on Amy (AAS Athlete, Co-Founder and Development Director). Chosen as one of CNN’s “Break Through Women,” Amy was followed for a day by a film crew as she worked with Josh and others attending the Ski Spectacular. The segment appeared on HLN: Morning Express with Robin Meade, twice a day Friday, Dec. 24 and Dec. 26. If you missed it click here:

http://mxp.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/24/amy-purdy-adaptive-action-athlete-and-breakthrough-woman/

AAS is a charitable non-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individuals and sponsorships. To learn more about the AAS mission, its’ incredible athletes, one of a kind programs and how you can help, please visit www.adacs.org or www.facebook.com/adaptiveactionsports. For general questions please contact us at info@adacs.org or call 619-770-0240. For sponsorship or media inquiries please contact AAS Development Director, Amy Purdy, at amy@adacs.org.