In the News

Published by Caryn Maconi/University of Colorado Boulder on July 21, 2012 James Stuck’s first solid memory after his accident was waking up in a hospital bed in Germany. Still in a haze, he asked the nurse if he still had his right leg. When she told him no, he broke down. “That was my most […]

Published in the Durango Herald on June 13, 2012 Big Red, who has carried hundreds of skiers, campers and other outdoors enthusiasts to 15 years of adventures is ready to slow down and kick back. It’s a well-deserved retirement as he reaches his 130,000-mile mark, but before he rattles and rolls into the sunset, he’s […]

Published in the Durango Herald on April 9, 2012 “This is SO hard,” he says as he angles the device into a quick turn and whips past us. We think he’s being facetious because it’s a beginner slope and no longer a real challenge for him, but sometimes it’s hard to tell with Noah Blue […]

Published in the Durango Herald on February 29, 2012 The snow this week arrived just in time for the 14th annual Dave Spencer Ski Classic, the annual fundraiser for Durango Adaptive Sports Association. The classic includes a number of events, from the opening reception today to team competitions Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s race includes prizes […]

Published in the Durango Herald on September 25, 2010 It was a wonderful and bittersweet evening when Adaptive Sports Association held its 10th and final Harvest Gala Dinner & Auction at Ken and Sue’s on Thursday. The event, which is known for being great fun, sold out in less than a week, so all 120 […]

Published in Durango Telegraph on February 25, 2010 Two weeks ago, Alexandre Bilodeau, the Olympic gold medalist in the moguls competition, credited his older brother Frederic, who has cerebral palsy, with being his greatest inspiration. When the camera focused on Frederic, his utter joy clearly implied the feeling is mutual. On Feb. 25, an Adaptive […]

Published by Marc Witkes on November 29, 2005 While Durango continues to gaze at the sky for clouds, moisture and anything remotely related to snow, the Adaptive Sports Association (ASA) is busy recruiting and training volunteers for its 23rd season. In 1983, Dave Spencer, a skier whose leg was amputated due to cancer, co-founded ASA […]

Published in the Durango Telegraph on January 20, 2005 The smiles are obvious as the wind races past the goggles and fleece of the overjoyed skiers and snowboarders. The riders glide effortlessly atop the snow at Durango Mountain Resort as volunteers keep a protective eye on their students. The folks at the Adaptive Sports Association […]

Published in the Durango Telegraph June 3, 2004 Durango’s Adaptive Sports Association, which has been around for more than 20 years, now has its own patron saint. Built from various pieces of scrap, the saint, who towers more than 7 feet and has lanky arms like a monkey and curly yellow hair, welcomes company. After […]

Published in the Durango Magazine Winter/Spring 2003 Like many visitors to Durango, Klaudia Birkner has visited Durango a number of times over the past 10 years. But she’s not a typical tourist. Because Birkner has been blind since she was 16 and has a rare disease that affects her spinal cord, she comes to ski […]