The Hartford Ski Spectacular – United We Shred

Snowboard season starts this week, and every year when I feel that first rush of cold air on my face, I’m reminded why I keep coming back to the mountain.

And this week isn’t just any week — it’s Ski Spectacular.

If you’ve never been, imagine hundreds of adaptive athletes from all over the world gathering in one place, surrounded by instructors, volunteers, and a community that believes in possibility, not limitation. It’s loud, joyful, chaotic, inspiring — and honestly one of my favorite weeks of the entire year.

At Ski Spec, I’m not a person with a disability.
I’m an adaptive athlete — and that changes everything.

It’s the beginning of the season when I get onto my board and remember that even though my body has changed, the mountain still welcomes me back… and so does Ski Spec.

Adaptive sports don’t just get me back on snow.
They remind me who I am.

Main Value Piece

Being part of Ski Spectacular has shaped so much of what I believe about resilience, progress, and community. Here’s what this week always teaches me:

1. Courage grows in community.
   At Ski Spec, everyone is cheering for everyone — whether you’re learning your very first turn or trying something you never thought possible. We all ride together.
2. Adaptive doesn’t mean “less than.”
   On the mountain, adaptations aren’t obstacles — they’re opportunities.
3. We all start the season somewhere.
   Some years I come in strong.
   Some years I come in nervous.
   This year, I’m coming in a little weaker — and that’s okay. Ski Spec is where I relearn what my body can do, not what it can’t.
4. Asking for the support you need is powerful.
   Asking for help isn’t a weakness — it’s leadership, safety, and self-advocacy. And it’s celebrated, not judged.
5. The mountain is the great equalizer.
   At the top of a run, no one is comparing stories or limitations. We’re all just looking downhill, breathing deep, ready to take the next turn. Together.

Takeaway

Adaptive sports — and especially Ski Spec — remind me that my difference is not something to hide. It’s something to ride with, grow from, and own proudly.

So whatever your “mountain” is this week, whether literal or emotional, I hope you give yourself the same grace we give each other on the slopes:

Start where you are.
Ask for what you need.
And keep moving forward!