The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic was created by the US
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 1987 with roughly 90 Veterans who were eager to learn to ski using adaptive ski equipment, and 20 staff members who helped them participate in a variety of adaptive activities and workshops. The idea for the Clinic originated in the early 1980s when Sandy Trombetta,
founder and director of the Clinic, began bringing VA patients to a nearby
mountain resort to participate in... read more
The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic was created by the US
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 1987 with roughly 90 Veterans who were eager to learn to ski using adaptive ski equipment, and 20 staff members who helped them participate in a variety of adaptive activities and workshops. The idea for the Clinic originated in the early 1980s when Sandy Trombetta,
founder and director of the Clinic, began bringing VA patients to a nearby
mountain resort to participate in disabled ski programs. As a recreation
therapist at the VA Medical Center in Grand Junction, Colorado, he recognized
the physical and mental healing that skiing and other winter sports could
provide to veterans with disabilities.
The popularity of the program became apparent by the steady climb in its
participant base, and in 1991, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) became a co-sponsor of the event. This milestone allowed the Clinic to grow and become the jewel in the crown of disabled sports that it is today. Each year, nearly 400 Veterans attend from across the country, along with 200 certified disabled ski instructors, several members of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and countless volunteers.
Co-sponsored by VA and DAV, the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports
Clinic attracts Veterans from across the country to participate in this annual
learn-to-ski clinic for disabled Veterans. Ensuring Veterans receive
world-class healthcare and rehabilitation is a primary goal of VA and DAV; the
Winter Sport Clinic complements those efforts by providing opportunities for
self- development and challenge through sports and leisure activities. The
Clinic proves that a disability need not be an obstacle to an active,
rewarding life.
Veterans learn Alpine and Nordic skiing and are introduced to a variety of
other activities and sports such as rock climbing, scuba diving, curling,
snowmobiling and sled hockey. U.S. Secret Service instructors also attend to
teach self-defense to participants who are in wheelchairs or are visually
impaired. Participation is open to male and female U.S. military service
veterans with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic
amputations, visual impairments, certain neurological problems and other
disabilities. Participants include Veterans from all eras, from WWII to
Veterans from the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. show less
