Massanutten

 Adaptive Snow Sports

 

The much anticipated long chairlift ride to access the Black Diamond slopes provides time to ponder many questions. At the summit, the panoramic view is both breathtaking and helps to give perspective to the upcoming challenge.  Skiing well on a Black Diamond slope is a major accomplishment that takes practice, courage and commitment. Now let’s really put this into perspective.

Ryan Flynn, who is eight years old and blind, recently conquered this challenge by skiing “ParaDice,” a Black Diamond slope at Massanutten Resort in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

On January 31, 2010, Ryan and his twin brother, Joseph who has his sight shared this experience together with their father, Tom.  Prior to skiing the slope the group shared a snack at the summit and took in the awesome view.

According to Mark Andrews, Founder/Executive Director of the Adaptive Snow Sports program, “One of our goals is to provide adaptive snow sports experiences that can be shared with family or friends. We are always pleased when monumental accomplishments are achieved in the presence of loved ones. It doesn’t get any better than that!” 

Ryan and Joseph are now new members of the esteemed “Summit Club.”  This club, at Massanutten Resort, is for an elite group of individuals who have honed their adaptive skiing and snowboarding skills to the extent that they can ski/ride Black Diamond terrain at our mountain. Typically members of this club must be adaptive skiers/riders.  In this case, we made an exception for the twin brothers. Congratulations! 

Filed under: Therapeutic Adventures