More than 800 individuals, ranging in ability from first-time skiers to elite Paralympic athletes attended the 38th annual The Hartford Ski Spectacular conducted by Move United December 8-14 in Breckenridge, Colorado.
The event is one of the nation’s largest and longest running winter sports festivals for people with physical disabilities. Attendees participated in six adaptive sports, including alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and sled hockey.
“For over three decades, The Hartford Ski Spectacular has provided youth and adults with disabilities the opportunity to feel the exhilaration of outdoor snow sports,” said Glenn Merry, executive director of Move United. “I hear again and again how powerful this experience is when it comes to transforming what attendees come to understand is possible for themselves.”
The Hartford, along with Paralympic medalist Keith Gabel, surprised 15 athletes with custom-fitted adaptive sports equipment. Adaptive athletes pay approximately 15 times more for equipment than nonadaptive athletes. Over the past six years through its adaptive sports program, The Hartford has provided more than 7,000 pieces of adaptive sports equipment that has impacted more than 55,000 individuals in more than 75 communities across the United States.
“We are incredibly proud to serve as the title sponsor of The Hartford Ski Spectacular for more than 30 years,” said Mike Fish, head of Group Benefits at The Hartford. “As a leading disability insurer, we recognize how transformative sports can be on helping individuals return to active and productive lives. Our enduring partnership with Move United is breaking down barriers to participation, enabling more youth and adults with disabilities to experience the joy and freedom of sports.”
One of the highlights this year was that several wounded veterans who will be representing the United States at the first-ever Winter Invictus Games in 2025 were training at the event. Another 60-plus wounded military veterans, service members, family and military medical staff from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and San Antonio Military Medical Center, as well as veterans from nearly a dozen VA hospitals and communities across the country participated as part of their rehabilitation.
Since 2003, Move United has served more than 19,000 severely wounded veterans, service members and family members, offering adaptive sports programs in more than 70 different adaptive sports in 45 states through a national network of more than 240 member organizations.
Additional event sponsors were Veritas Capital, Oshkosh Defense, Leonardo DRS, Tee It Up for the Troops, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center, Breckenridge Ski Resort and Breck Sports. The event is also funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Through grant support from the VA, Move United receives funding to increase, expand and enhance the quantity and quality of adaptive sport activities available for disabled veterans and members of the US Armed Forces to participate in physical activity within their home communities and more advanced Paralympic and adaptive sport programs at the regional and national levels. The VA also provides essential equipment and technical support to The Hartford Ski Spectacular.
Move United member organization, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, was the host organization for the event. Additional contributing members include Adaptive Sports at Mount Snow, Challenged Athletes of West Virginia, Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, New England Disabled Sports, Oregon Adaptive Sports, Spaulding Adaptive Sports Center, Summit Adaptive, and Waterville Valley Adaptive Sports. Partnering organizations included Grand Junction VA Medical Center, Professional Ski Instructors of America-American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI), and Colorado Adaptive Sports Foundation.
