We are so excited about our relationship with the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association (NDAA) and its founder and board president Patrick Standen.  NDAA is a Vermont-based, non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to provide recreational and competitive athletic opportunities for people with physical disabilities, and to support disabled athletes in their pursuit of excellence.  Patrick teaches Philosphy at Saint Michael's College and both medical and clinical Ethics at the University of Vermont.  He is an accomplished multi-sport and wheelchair sport athlete and will be skiing in the Tour de Snow.  Come and meet him and check out his gear at the "Meet and Greet", Saturday, January 14th, 4-6pm at the Vermont Ski Museum in Stowe.

Friends of Stowe Adaptive and Cynthia Needham have been instrumental in developing our plan to include adaptive skiers in the Tour.  When Cynthia is not teaching yoga or another fitness class at the Swimming Hole, she works with Stowe Mountain Resort's Ski and Snowboard School to provide skiing and riding experiences.  Contact them to find out more about adaptive alpine skiing and riding in Stowe.

The Kelly Brush Foundation was established by family and friends in 2006 after Kelly was injured in a ski race and suffered cord injury.  The Foundation mainly focuses on improving ski racing safety and purchasing adaptive athletic equipment for individuals living with SCI.  For many years, Kelly was a junior ski racer with the Mt. Mansfield Ski Club in Stowe.  We are super excited to have her Foundation supports our efforts with the Tour, mainly in reaching out to the hand cyclists who participate in the annual KBF ride.

Eileen Carey, Adaptive Program's Director of NENSA will be on hand with gear and staff at the Tour this year.  They are bringing sit skis and other adaptive equipment and will gladly outfit individual with physical disabilities with the gear most appropriate for each personal type and ability level.

Monica Quimby is Ms. Wheelchair Maine 2011, a disability advocate public speaker and an adjunct professor of molecular biology, to name a few. The 25 year old Portland, Maine resident is living proof of life after a spinal-cord injury who has never let her injury get in the way of success. She is a leader and supporter of many meaningful causes and efforts to raise awareness for people with physical disabilities.  She is an accomplished Nordic skier and sled hockey player and is making her debut on her alpine ski this season. 

Erik Kondo is also one of our influential and dynamic guest and a wheelchair user from a motorcycle accident he sustained at age 19.  At 44, Erik owns and operates commercial and residential real estate, as well as owns and operates Together in Motion, a kid’s tumble gym and adult exercise studio.  He also is the Founder of NOT-ME! a non-profit organization with a mission to promote, advance, and unify self-defense education and trainin for at-risk populations.  Erik has a 3rd Degree black belt in jujitsu and is also an accomplished alpine sit skier.  As a hand cyclist he participates annually in the Kelly Brush Ride.  He is coming to Stowe with his wife and three young children who will all xc ski in the Stowe Tour de Snow.