Where My Worlds Merge

Welcome to the Challenge chalet. Alaska's premiere adaptive ski center.

A place where hip young skiers, outdoor athletes, seasoned ski bums, and caring souls work with people across the spectrum of disabilities, from physical to cognitive, young children to veterans, to enable them to fly.

Downhill that is, skiing, anyway possible.

From sit-skis to tethers to bamboo poles to hula hoops, you name it, they'll try it.

And oh the smiles.

Courageous smiles.

Contagious smiles.

Because there is just something about snow and speed that makes everyone lighter, at least for awhile.

And as a former college athlete and lover of all things outdoors and physical, as someone who made a rash decision to move to Alaska while stuck in traffic on my way to an office when a car drove past bedecked with a bike and kayak and I longed to follow, and now as a Mom to a boy with multiple disabilities, in the Challenge chalet, I have finally found a place where my two worlds merge.

My prior to parenthood self sits comfortably next to Elias's Mom, surrounded by people who represent the various trails of this unexpected life of mine. And we are all at home in this understanding place where disabilities does not mean disconnection or disgrace. But rather a mere chapter in the story of who we are as people longing to fly.

When Elias walks up the stairs to the chalet's great room, like Norm, almost everyone knows his name and greets him like a rock star. This is his third winter skiing with Challenge, and my only regret is that we didn't start when he was five.

Olive, wary at first of wheel chairs and facial ticks, now runs around the chalet with her tutu and ski boots, making herself at home. She still stares at times, but we all do, don't we, in our own way, curious about differences that we may or may not understand.

And here, in this light-filled chalet on the slopes of Alyeska, in Girdwood Alaska, everyone has a challenge. 

And a story to tell.

And a desire to make it down the mountain.

Even if, like Elias, its is the ride up that inspires, the chairlift with all its mechanical parts and numbers that motivates, what goes up must come down.

And with the help of the volunteer instructors, Elias always makes it back down, only to ride up again, soaking up every detail, asking overly specific questions, but doing something that only the very fortunate can claim.

Skiing.

How are we so lucky?

We slept in the bunkhouse on Sunday night and after a full day of skiing Sunday, a day where Olive took to the terrain park and the half pipe and didn't even want to stop to eat, we took a walk in the early evening sunshine. We walked from the Challenge chalet past the Sitzmark Bar and Grill to the Day Lodge, where people without disabilities  base camp. Elias wanted to check it out and so we did, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for all those able-bodied skiers who have a cement cafeteria style home base and not our sofa-laden, carpeted, big-screen TV, fire place, open kitchen, foosball, bunkhouse, chalet.

Again, we are the fortunate few.

And not just for the amenities, but for the inclusive community of Challenge, a place where regardless of your abilities, everyone wants to know your name.

Thank you to the funders, staff and volunteers of Challenge Alaska, for creating a place I am honored to call our home base.

Till the next time...

 Cheers!

 

Comments

[Beau Obrigewitch]

Christy,

I and my wife are in our 4th year at Challenge. My wife hates skiing. I love it. You (and the entire Challenge family) letting us into your lives is why we keep coming back. Tara told me one time she strives only to give half as much back as we recieve from our participants.

I am writing to ask if I may share this blog post with some of our friends as I ask for donations for SnowBlast.

Thank you,
Beau Obrigewitch
907-952-6271
[email protected]

[Greta]

***Love***

[Kate]

I wish the whole world was like that little oasis. What a great place!!

[Shelley]

That looks ah-mah-zing!

[Christy]

It is such an amazing place and yes Kate, I too wish the whole world was like it.