Two Sun Valley-based organizations, the Wood River Ability Program and Sun Valley Adaptive Sports, will host wounded veterans in two separate programs from Saturday, Jan. 11, through Wednesday, Jan. 17.
The Adaptive Sports Higher Ground program will host its second Annual Snowsports Camp for Idaho service members who have been wounded in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terror. This year, wounded service members from Oregon will also participate.
"The activities they do here will do more than just teach them how to ski and snowboard," said Tom Islein, executive director of Sun Valley Adaptive Sports. "They build friends and gain self-confidence. It's these attributes that will have a lasting effect when they go home. The result is long-term sustainable rehabilitation, which is at the heart of what sports and recreation therapy is all about."
The vets and their families will ski, snowboard, snowshoe, play sled hockey, ice skate, and—"everyone's favorite"—go paragliding, Iselin said.
The Wood River Ability Program will host some 14 amputees and approximately six burn victims who are rehabilitating at the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Marc Mast, director of Ability Program, said the program, called the Wounded Heroes Ski Trip, is sponsored by a national coalition. The sponsors include the Ketchum-based Ability Program and the David Ketchum Post 115 of the American Legion as well as Operation Comfort from San Antonio, Disabled Sports USA, the Wounded Warriors Project and Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, a group of Vietnam Veterans.
There will also be four members of the 1073rd Airborne Division who are still on active duty.
"It'll be a kind of reunion," Mast said.
One of the 1073rd is David Soule, who has been training in Sun Valley this winter. Last week, he competed in the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Houghton, Mich., where he finished fourth in his first foray into competitive cross-country. His sit-ski was donated by Sun Valley patrons of the Wood River Adaptive Program.
"The community is donating tons of stuff, including the Pioneer Saloon, which is donating a dinner for 30 on Monday, Jan. 15," Mast said.
At the opening ceremonies of The Ski Tour, on Friday, Jan. 12, there will be an acknowledgement of the veterans, said The Ski Tour director Kipp Nelson, of Ketchum. As well, at the Saturday night concert at nexStage Theatre in Ketchum, a percentage of ticket sales will benefit the Wood River Ability Program and Sun Valley Adaptive Sports.
On Monday, the service members have been invited to ski or snowboard with some of the professional athletes.
The Wood River Ability Program and Sun Valley Adaptive Sports will host wounded veterans in two separate programs starting this weekend. Express file photo
