New Name. Same Great Local Leadership and Volunteers.
Summit Adaptive Sports is proud to be partnering with Ski Sundown to provide adaptive lessons in skiing and snowboard riding. While our name has changed, we bring the same highly trained leadership and volunteers that have managed the program through 18 years of significant growth.
Continued Strong Partnership with Ski Sundown
Our skiing and snowboarding adaptive programs have continued to grow since beginning with Ski Sundown 18 years ago. Over the last two seasons we provided over 400 adaptive lessons each winter to over 150 athletes. There is a strong desire to expand our programs to engage and serve as many participants as possible. Many of our volunteers have been with the program since the early years and our reputation for offering expert coaching from highly trained volunteers has become well known.
Local Non-Profit
Interest and need for access to multiple adaptive sports is growing tremendously each and every year. With a strong leadership team in place to guide us, and the help of Ski Sundown, we have created a local non-profit for adaptive year-round outdoor sports programs. Summit Adaptive Sports, Inc., with its dedicated and highly trained volunteers, is here to fill this need to serve athlete participants and families.
Expanding to Year-Round Outdoor Sports
The success and strength of our organization’s systems, staff, and board engagement has allowed us
to capitalize on new funding sources to continue
the growth of the snow sports programs and
expand into other outdoor sports such as disc golf, nordic skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and more.
These programs are not otherwise available in our region at the level we offer.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BEING PART OF SUMMIT ADAPTIVE SPORTS!
TIMELINE
2006
First adaptive lessons offered - 10 lessons 1st year Shelly Gambino is our first Director of the Ski Sundown Adaptive Program.
2012
American School for the Deaf brought 10 participants for a day of learning to ski and ride. and continued for many years.
2019
Partnered with Power Through The Powder to introduce skiing and riding to 40 participants with various disabilities over 2 day weekend.
2007
The adaptive group became its own department under Ski School and partnered with STRIDE Adaptive Sports as third mountain under their program.
2015
Gaylord Sports brings Participants. Continues to bring participants each year.
2019/2020
Begins offering Developmental Ski Race Team with 8 initial participants.
2021/2022​
Over 450 lessons offered. 38 dedicated adaptive Program Volunteer Coaches.
2023
Introduction of Year Round Sport Programs
Kayaking, Hiking, Mtn Biking & Disc Golf
2006
Program started with 8 instructors.
2012
Al Blanchard becomes head of adaptive program at Ski Sundown.
2008
First BESB (Board of Education and Services for the Blind) day held. 11 teenagers from all over Connecticut attended and coached by adaptive instructors from all three STRIDE mountains. Program continues through today.
2016
Karen Cook becomes Adaptive Program Director at Ski Sundown..
2018/2019
Begin coaching some Special Olympics ski teams
2020/2021
Ski Sundown provides adaptive program with dedicated space for athletes & coaches.
2022
Summit Adaptive Sports is founded locally with plans to continue the strong ski and ride program partnered with Ski Sundown and plans to expand to additional outdoor sports.