Adaptive Skiers Inducted to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame
posted on Nov 11 by Stacy in the Disability News, Wheelchair Sports categoryJack Benedick, Chris Waddell and Sarah Will are the first adaptive skiers to be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame since 1984.
Jack Benedick who won a silver medal in the combined at the 1984 Paralympic games, lost both his legs in the Viet Nam War. He lobbied the International Ski Federation to accept adaptive skiing.
Chris Waddell is paralyzed from the waist down from a skiing accident, recently became the first paraplegic to successfully climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Chris has won 12 medals at 4 Paralympic games. Chris has also competed at 3 Paralympic summer games.
Sarah Will paralyzed in a skiing accident in 1988, went on to win 12 medals at 4 Paralympic games. She began training not long after her accident and within 3 years she won gold. Sarah and Chris Waddell started an adaptive skiing program at Vail. Sarah also had the honor of being inducted into the Colorado Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1984.
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National Van Builders Inc., posted this comment on Nov 18th, 2009
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and being paralyzed is a very impressive accomplishment. many people who are in shape and non-paralyzed would even have a difficult time to finish that climb.