It might not be the Northeast’s snowiest winter, but there are still mountains to conquer and, even better, adaptive ski and snowboard programs to help people with disabilities to do so with confidence. These programs can be found at almost every resort in the state, so the below is just to get you started.
I Ski NY has a solid list of suggested spots, including the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center at the Windham Mountain ski resort in Windham, N.Y. It’s run by the Adaptive Sports Foundation, which says it’s been providing sports and recreation opportunities to thousands of children and adults with both cognitive and physical disabilities since 1984.
FYI, the Adaptive Sports Foundation also now operates at New Jersey’s indoor Big Snow American Dream, which offers ski and snowboarding lessons year-round. It’s part of the humongous American Dream mall adjacent to the New Jersey Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford.
Another notable New York program on the list is Greek Peak Adaptive Snowsports at Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Cortland, N.Y., which offers reduced-price lift tickets during the GPAS Sunday program. (It also hosts some Special Olympics State Games.)
Also, STRIDE adaptive sports, which provides over 11,000 adaptive sport and recreation lessons each year to individuals with disabilities according to the organization, offers adaptive ski and snowboard lessons at three mountain resorts in New England, including Catamount Mountain in Hillsdale, N.Y., and Titus Mountain in Malone, N.Y.