[Sportsandrec] Fw: USABA's Third Annual Ski Festival Kicks Off January 15, 2010

[Christella Garcia]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: United States Association of Blind Athletes 
To: Christella Garcia 
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:19 PM
Subject: USABA's Third Annual Ski Festival Kicks Off January 15, 2010


 


United States Association of Blind Athletes’ Third Annual Ski Festival Kicks Off January 15, 2010
Blind and visually impaired skiers take to the slopes in Vermont    


KILLINGTON, Vt. (Sept. 15, 2009) – The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is proud to announce their Third Annual Winter Ski Festival will be held in Killington, Vt., Friday, Jan. 15 through Monday Jan. 18, 2010. Athletes with visual impairment will be given the opportunity to learn to ski or learn to race in the sports of alpine and nordic skiing, while spending a weekend in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

USABA, in conjunction with Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, the Gibney Family Foundation and U.S. Paralympics, is proud to offer this recreational opportunity to individuals of all ages and abilities with visual impairments.  Whether the participants are first-time skiers or competitive racers, the festival will be catered to each athlete’s ability.

"USABA is extremely pleased to partner with Vermont Adaptive Ski &  Sports, the Gibney Family Foundation and U.S. Paralympics to provide a wonderful opportunity for blind and visually impaired skiers including military service members and veterans with eye injuries to develop and enhance their alpine and nordic skiing skills,” said Mark Lucas, USABA’s executive director.  “We are also extremely excited to partner with the New England Chapter of the National Association for the Parents of Children with Visual Impairments who will bring their children to participate in the ski programs while parents conduct support meetings to share information and resources for their children."

Guides and instructors are provided by Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, a non-profit organization located in Vermont, which is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities. Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports will pair each blind and visually impaired skier with a trained ski guide to learn and practice skills in either genre of learn to ski or race. All skill levels are welcome from beginner to advanced.

Participants will stay at a local hotel and will have transportation provided to them for the daily events. The weekend will conclude with a banquet dinner held at the Killington Grand Hotel and will feature a key-note speaker of Paralympic stature.  Alpine skiing will be hosted at Pico Ski Resort in Killington, Vt.; while nordic skiing will be at Mountain Top Inn in Chittenden, Vt.

This event will also be hosted as a Paralympic Academy. Local Paralympic Academy events serve as an introduction to Paralympic sport and allow participants to try different activities such as goalball.

The  application and additional information more info will be posted in late October on the USABA website:  www.usaba.org.  For additional information contact John Potts, USABA Sports Director, at jpotts at usaba.org, or Donna Stanley at VT Adaptive Ski & Sports, (802) 353-7584.

Since its founding in 1976, USABA, a community-based organization of the United States Olympic Committee, has reached more than 100,000 blind individuals. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes, it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. USABA’s Mission: to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity.  For more information, please visit our Web site: www.usaba.org