“It sounds cliché,
but adaptive sports
saved my life.”
Laurie Wood, Navy Veteran
Points of Contact
Teresa Parks
​VA Event Director
(970) 263-5040
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John Kleindienst
DAV National Voluntary Services Director
(859) 442-2056
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About the Clinic
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The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is the world leader in rehabilitation.
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Participating Veterans experience “Miracles on a Mountainside” as they are provided with training in adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing, sled hockey, scuba diving, rock wall climbing and a number of other adaptive activities, sports and education.
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The clinic, which began in 1987 with 90 participants, has grown to assist nearly 400 profoundly disabled Veterans.
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Veterans with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions and other disabilities are empowered to challenge perceived limitations by participating in adaptive sports that improve their overall health and outlook.
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World-class instructors help Veterans achieve their maximum potential based on their unique capabilities. Along the way, it’s introduced dozens of Veterans to future glory as Paralympic athletes.
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The five-day event is sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and DAV (Disabled American Veterans), with financial assistance from corporate sponsors and individual donors.
Held in Snowmass (near Aspen), Colorado, participants experience:
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Alpine Skiing
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Cross Country Skiing
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Sled Hockey
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Scuba Diving
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Rock Wall Climbing
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Fly Fishing
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Curling
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Snowmobiling
Mission Statement​
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The mission of the Winter Sports Clinic is to involve disabled Veterans with spinal cord injuries, amputations, neurological disorders, visual impairments and other profound injuries and medical concerns in challenging therapeutic outdoor experiences and education. These experiences provide the catalyst which improves overall physical well-being, mental health, self-esteem, community re-entry and readjustment.