The Hartford Ski Spectacular Opens the Slopes to Adaptive Athletes

The Hartford Ski Spectacular and Move United are carving across the slopes of Breckenridge, Colorado, this week, embracing the event’s annual mission to create more opportunities for adaptive skiers and snowboarders.

“This event always provides a whole other level of adaptive instruction,” said PSIA-AASI Adaptive Team Coach Geoff Krill, who has been attending the Ski Spectacular since 1998, and who in 2017 was inducted into the Adaptive Sports Hall of Fame. “That’s because it’s all about people working to get better at their own skiing and riding specifically so they can be more of a resource for other people who want to access the slopes, including many of our nation’s wounded warriors.”

Kicking off the Season for the Adaptive Snowsports Industry

Krill described the event as equal parts tradeshow, with manufacturers introducing their latest adaptive equipment and accessories, Instructor Academy (endorsed by PSIA-AASI) where attendees can earn continuing education units (CEUs), ski school for adaptive attendees, race camp, and convention where teachers and athletes can make valuable connections from across the country.

“There’s really nothing else like it, with more than 600 people all working in the same spirit toward similar outcomes and goals,” he said. “It’s a cool vibe and there is always the sense that this is what kicks off the winter for the adaptive snowsports industry. If you miss it, you feel like you missed out on your chance to get a jumpstart on the season each year.”

PSIA Alpine Team member Mike Hafer, who is enjoying his first time coaching at the event, said even a stretch of bitterly cold weather couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm he experienced during the first two days of the Ski Spectacular.

“There’s just a ton of energy around it,” Hafer said. “The motivation is high. People are all early to the clinics and they latch onto every word you say because they are so invested in finding new ways to help out other people. I had a guy in one of my clinics who wanted to retire so he could do this full time, and as far as I can tell he’s working 60 hours a week. Most of these people are volunteers who are giving up their time – and this entire week – so that they can get more people out on snow.”

A National Community of Snowsports Instructors

Hafer said that unlike other academies or ski clinics where he was worked, he’s never met so many instructors from smaller areas in states such as Wisconsin and Ohio.

“I felt like Tuesday I was able to connect with more instructors from smaller mountains than at any other national academy,” Hafer said. “But that’s not their focus. Their focus is on the topics we’re presenting and the information we are providing because that’s what is going to help them go home and help other people.”

“What keeps me coming back to this event every year is being part of the greater culture and this community,” said Krill. “It’s infectious to be around so many individuals who want to spread the knowledge and help their programs succeed – no matter how small those programs are. They just want to do some good in the world, and it’s great to be around such a selfless group of people.”

Visit Move United Sport to find out more about the Hartford Ski Spectacular.