Malone — Continuing to build the adaptive sports community, STRIDE Adaptive Sports has announced new winter sports opportunities for athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities in the northern Adirondacks region on the Canadian border. . This winter, Stride opened at Malone’s Titus Mountain Family Ski Center, offering adaptive downhill skis and snowboards designed for all levels of ability. The inclusive program is designed to create a continuum from entry into the sport to competition for the Paralympic Path for this community.
As a leader in the growth of adaptive winter sports in the Northeast region, STRIDE has expanded once again to create a level playing field in these resource-scarce regions. Development of the new program was broadly endorsed by Bruce Monette, III, owner of Titus Mountain.
Planning began in the spring of 2022 and the mountain administration worked hard to get the program ready for the opening day of the season. Equipment storage was constructed for large adaptation equipment. Marketing and operations established. And training was provided to meet the program.
The expansion of STRIDE would not have been possible without the knowledge and leadership of its new program director, Mindy Fairchild, who has been with STRIDE for over 20 years at the Jiminy Peak Program in Berkshire, Massachusetts, and has moved to the Tupper Lakes area. Mindy, a PSIA Level II Adaptive and Alpine Certified Instructor, has assembled a small team of volunteer his coaches to coach this year. A minimum of 30 hours of training is required to start this program and it will definitely grow quickly. In addition, the program is financially supported by the Adirondack for Kids Foundation to purchase Sit his two main adaptations for his skiers called the Dynamique bi-ski and Monique Mono-ski.
More than 21 million Americans live with a disability, but the high cost of adaptive sports equipment and lack of resources can be barriers to staying active. STRIDE is focused on supporting athletes with intellectual and/or physical challenges using equipment and a supportive community to improve their lives through sport.
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