Toyota’s Partnership with Amy Purdy's Adaptive Action Sports

PARALYMPIC SNOWBOARDER AMY PURDY’S ADAPTIVE ACTION SPORTS RECEIVES THE ULTIMATE ‘LIFT’ FROM TOYOTA

THE PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS FOR EXPANSION OF AAS PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT

WOUNDED VETERANS

Amy Purdy - Paralympic Games Sochi Russia 2014

TORRANCE, Calif. (May 22, 2014) – Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy’s Adaptive Action Sports (AAS) will get a jump-start from Toyota, beginning today.  Toyota and AAS are expanding their partnership, which will allow AAS to host 10 competitive para-snowboard events for wounded veterans by the end of 2015.

“At Toyota, we believe in the spirit of adventure, innovation and going places, and enjoy collaborating with partners that feel the same way,” said Keith Dahl, corporate manager of engagement marketing. “Adaptive Action Sports embodies a similar spirit and serves as a great example of an organization that is helping others go places they haven’t been before.”

AAS, based in Copper Mountain, Colorado, and co-founded by U.S. Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy, allows disabled children, young adults and wounded veterans to compete in action sports. Its core principle is that action sports encourage individuality and creativity in participants, while building independence and self-confidence.

Purdy has been a member of Team Toyota, comprising 19 athletes, since 2012, and is herself a double-amputee who began to snowboard seven months after receiving prosthetics at the age of 19. She recently received much acclaim for winning a bronze medal at the 2014 Paralympic Games and for her second place finish on the hit television show Dancing With the Stars, capturing the heart of millions of Americans along the way.

“My impetus for starting AAS was to give others the chance to see the path I followed to get here: from my hospital bed, to the Paralympics medal podium, to Dancing With the Stars,” said Purdy. “If someone who has been born with a congenital abnormality, lost a leg, or suffered a brain injury succeeds at snowboarding or skateboarding, they will believe that they have the ability to conquer other challenges and truly be ready live beyond their limits. We appreciate Toyota’s enthusiastic support in helping even more people go beyond their limits, to really go places.”

To date, Toyota has provided AAS with a mobility Sienna minivan that the non-profit organization used to transfer athletes to and from its training facility in Colorado. The expanded partnership will allow the organization to continue this effort, while also growing its services to veterans.

LET’S HEAR IT FOR FREEDOM FEET

Amy Purdy, Executive Director Daniel Gale and Evan Strong

Freedom Innovations, makers of prosthetic feet for Champion Parasnowboarders, helped bring two AAS Team Members to the US National Parasnowboard Team . . . and onto the podium in the inaugural Para-Snoboardcross event at the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi Russia.

Gold Medalist Evan Strong and Bronze winner Amy Purdy were among those supported, in part, by a grant to AAS from Freedom Innovations.  The grant also partially supported AAS training for up-and-coming Parasnowboarders Jay Gaines and Andrew Hale, who are targeting the Paralympics in 2018. Andrew placed third in the USASA Nationals Sport Class this season. Additionally resident athlete Arlene Cohen wore Freedom Innovations feet throughout her competition season and successfully placed first at the USASA Nationals as well!

Congrats to all of the AAS riders on there successful season supported by Freedom Feet!

Left to Right - Andrew Hale, James Sides, Arlene Cohen, Sandra Ambotaite and Diane Musgrove

Amy Purdy and Evan Strong Both Medal at the Paralympics in Sochi

Everyone at Adaptive Action Sports are proud to announce the amazing success of Amy Purdy and Evan Strong at the Paralympics in Sochi.  Evan had the extreme honor of receiving the first gold medal for the U.S. at the winter games while Amy won the bronze in snowboarding's debut at the Paralympics.

Evan Strong Wins Gold in Sochi's Winter Paralympics

There was some strange energy around. It was hard to explain, says Evan Strong, 22, as he talked about the day of his motorcycle accident. Evan was 17 still living in Maui with his family when he was in a horrible motorcycle accident resulting in the amputation of his left leg just below the knee. Evan said goodbye to his "old self" that day and left him with a completely new look at life. The process of recovery put him in what he explains as an "infant-like" state -needing help going to the bathroom, having to be fed, and pretty much being dependant for almost everything. Today, Evan wants to show others how to lead a more fulfilling life, to help others find peace within themselves. Evan now coaches and mentors at Adaptive Action Sports, a non-profit organization, that sponsors clinics where Evan teaches and mentors kids with disabilities along with adults how to mountain bike, skateboard, and hopefully in the future, to rock climb. "I want to see people break out of the shell of what they thought their limitations were."

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia – On a historic day for snowboarding at the Paralympics, U.S. rider Evan Strong won the men's snowboard cross competition, leading an American sweep of the medals. Strong, 27, a longtime California resident who was injured in a motorcycle accident 10 years ago, claimed the first gold medal for the U.S. at the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games.
"I'm ecstatic, I'm over the moon, I don't even feel like my feet are on the ground right now," Strong said after his victory at the Rosa Khutor resort in the mountains above Sochi... [read more]

Amy Purdy Wins Bronze in Sochi's Winter Paralympics

Amy Purdy was a snow board sport fanatic growing up. She wanted to take several years traveling the world and snowboarding when unexpectedly, at 19 years old, her life took a dramatic turn. After suffering a day of what seemed to be the flu, Amy was taken to the hospital in a state of septic shock. She was shortly after, Amy was diagnosed with Bacterial Meningitis, a deadly blood infection. Amy fought the good fight for nearly three months. When released from the hospital, she was a completely different person mentally,  physically and spiritually. Amy suffered the loss of bothlegs below the knee along with all kidney function, but it didn't stop her from following her dreams. Amy is now a medaled snowboarder, actress, TV host, public speaker  and Advocate for Element Skateboards.  

Strong, 27, a longtime California resident who was injured in a motorcycle accident 10 years ago, claimed the first gold medal for the U.S. at the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games.
"I'm ecstatic, I'm over the moon, I don't even feel like my feet are on the ground right now," Strong said after his victory at the Rosa Khutor resort in the mountains above Sochi... [read more]

New Athletes Emerge for 2018 Paralympic Games in South Korea

Andrew and Jay at USASA Regional Race - Copper Mountain

As four AAS athletes moved up to the National Team and will attend the Paralympics this year, AAS is developing new talent in its Pipeline.  Two credible prospects for the 2018 US Paralympic Snowboard Team have begun training.  They are 16 year old Jay Gaines, and 21 year old Andrew Hale.

This year is Jay’s second year with AAS.  To get him on-snow as much as possible, his family has relocated from Kentucky to Copper Mountain.  Recently, in USASA Rocky Mountain’s regional races 1 and 2, Jay took first in the Adaptive BoarderX competition and third in the Able-bodied Adaptive Boarder X.

Andrew, having only been on a snowboard 15 times since his limb loss, competed in and won a Bronze and Gold Medal at the USASA Rocky Mountain Series 3 and 4.

His high-skill potential was identified in December at the Hartford Ski Spec. Both Andrew and Jay will be attending the USASA Nationals this spring at Copper Mountain.

AAS invites you to contribute to help pay costs associated with Jay and Andrew’s training.  We are hoping to cover expenses with small contributions from a large number of people.