ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In March, Evan Strong, Michael Shea and Keith Gabel stood atop the medal podium as Team USA swept the first ever Paralympic Snowboard Cross event at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. They will reunite the first week in December to support the next generation of adaptive snowboarders.
Strong, Shea and Gabel will be among the world's best adaptive snowboard instructors teaching youth, adults and wounded warriors how to snowboard at The Hartford Ski Spectacular Dec, 1-7 in Breckenridge, Colo. More than 800 men, women, and children are expected to participate at the week-long event, hosted by Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA) and sponsored by The Hartford, the Official Disability Insurance Sponsor of U.S. Paralympics.
"The Hartford is proud to partner with Disabled Sports USA for more than two decades on this incredible event that has become a birthplace of champions," said Mike Concannon, executive vice president of The Hartford's Group Benefits business. "As a founding partner of U.S. Paralympics, we are honored to have our team of athlete ambassadors giving back at The Hartford Ski Spectacular. We believe they will inspire others to look beyond physical limitations and focus on ability and achievement."
At age 17, Strong was riding his motorcycle when he was hit in a head-on collision by a drunk driver going 65 mph, resulting in a left leg amputation. A semi-pro skateboarder and extreme sports enthusiast prior to his accident, Strong realized he could still get the same thrill from adaptive snowboarding. In March, Strong won gold for Team USA at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in the U.S. men's podium sweep in snowboard cross. This year he also became the first elite para-athlete to appear on a Wheaties cereal box. "Despite my injury, I never stopped challenging myself to grow and reach new milestones," he said
Shea lost his left leg in 2002, while wakeboarding in Castaic, Calif. This year, Shea celebrated his 16th year as a snowboarder with a silver medal in Sochi and has been the snowboard development coach at National Sports Center for the Disabled, an adaptive sports organization in Colorado. "My amputation changed my life, and I learned how to embrace my disability. It ultimately brought me more opportunity and because of that I am doing more with one leg then I ever did with two legs," Shea said.
Gabel was in an industrial accident in 2005 that eventually cost him his left foot. Having been a snowboarder since 2000, Keith was determined to not let the accident take away the sport he loved. This year, he earned a Bronze medal at the Paralympics snowboard competition. "It's a huge honor to be able to motivate people, and to know they gain drive from my experiences," he said.
The Hartford Ski Spectacular's Presenting Sponsor is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for disabled Veterans and disabled Members of the Armed Forces program provides grant funding to organizations to increase, expand and enhance the quantity and quality of adaptive sport activities available for disabled Veterans and members of the Armed Forces have to participate in physical activity within their home communities, as well as more advanced Paralympic and adaptive sport programs at the regional and national levels.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Grand Junction VA Medical Center and the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic provide essential equipment and technical support to The Hartford Ski Spectacular. For more information on VA Adaptive Sports programs visit www.va.gov/adaptivesports
"We are thrilled to partner with The Hartford and have the support of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and others to offer youth and adults with disabilities, including disabled veterans, this wonderful event," says Kirk Bauer, JD, executive director of DSUSA and himself a disabled veteran. "The Hartford Ski Spectacular offers individuals with disabilities a unique opportunity to learn how to snowboard and ski, developing independence, confidence, and fitness."
The event is also sponsored by Wash Depot; Veritas; Bob Woodruff Foundation; Oshkosh Defense; Team Semper Fi; Tee it up for the Troops; DAV Charitable Service Trust; Fluor; Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center and Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Partnering organizations include: Disabled American Veterans, Maggie George Foundation, Professional Ski Instructors of America- American Association of Snowboard Instructors National Adaptive Academy (PSIAAASI), Vail Adaptive Sports, U.S. Paralympics, U.S. Paralympic Snowboarding, Bern Helmets, USA Curling, Colorado Adaptive Sports Foundation and Breck Sports. DSUSA chapters supporting the event include: Host chapter Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center and chapters Adaptive Adventures, Adaptive Sports Center, Maine Adaptive Sports, National Ability Center, New England Disabled Sports, National Sports Center for the Disabled and Waterville Valley Adaptive Sports.
Follow the action at The Hartford Ski Spectacular (#skispec) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Look for @DisabledSportUS on Twitter and Disabled Sports USA on Instagram and Facebook, as well as @TheHartford on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Disabled Sports USA
Founded in 1967, Disabled Sports USA is a national charitable organization that provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in sports. What began as a program to serve Vietnam veterans has since grown into one of the nation's largest multi-sport, multi-disability organizations, annually serving more than 60,000 wounded warriors, youth, and adults with disabilities. A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Multi-Sport Organization Council, Disabled Sports USA offers programs in more than 40 summer and winter sports through its nationwide network of more than 100 community-based chapters. For more information, visit www.disabledsportsusa.org.
About The Hartford
With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford HIG is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. The company is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheHartford. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheHartford.
Media Contact:
Dave Simonson
301-217-9837
dsimonson@dsusa.org
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A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=29325
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