Waterville Valley
The AbilityPLUS adaptive program at Waterville Valley takes a team approach to adaptive skiing. Children and adults with physical and mental disabilities are paired with volunteers. The program, first introduced in 1992, features specially-designed adaptive ski equipment and mono-skis. More than 80 trained volunteer instructors teach lessons seven days a week during the ski season. The resort, located in the White Mountain National Forest, has 259 skiable acres, with 52 trails. Free shuttles run from the ski area to the Waterville Valley Village, with lodging, restaurants, shops, a Nordic center, ice skating, sleigh rides and more.
Waterville Valley
1 Ski Area Rd.
PO Box 540
Waterville Valley, NH 03215
(603) 236-8311
waterville.com
Loon Mountain
The New England Disabled Sports at Loon, member of Disabled Sports USA, has 160 trained volunteers who teach adaptive alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. The program, which works out of a modern, 4,800-square-foot facility, provides one-on-one instruction. Loon is home to the New England Disabled Ski Team and offers the Pre-Adaptive Coach program (PAC) for kids 14 to 18 years old. Twenty kids are chosen each season for the PAC program (through an interview and application process) to learn how to teach disabled skiers. The resort also houses the National Disabled Ski Hall of Fame. Loon Mountain has 336 skiable acres with 55 trails.
Loon Mountain
60 Loon Mountain Rd.
Lincoln, NH 03251
(603) 745-8111
loonmtn.com
Mount Sunapee
The New England Handicapped Sports Association at Mount Sunapee is one of the oldest adaptive ski programs in the region. A wide variety of on and off mountain workshops and clinics--often more than 30 programs per season--are offered at the resort. Mono-ski, bi-ski, ski bras, fixed outriggers and tethering techniques are used for stand-up and sit-down skiers. Adaptive snowboard instruction is also available. Many of the instructors are disabled themselves and offer one-on-one or group lessons. Mount Sunapee has 65 trails spread across 230 skiable acres.
Mount Sunapee
Route 103
PO Box 2021
Newbury, NH 03255
(603) 763-2358
mtsunapee.com
Article Written By Pamela Wright
Pamela Wright is a freelance writer, author of more than two dozen guidebooks, and hundreds of articles. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including "National Geographic Traveler," "Family Circle," "Family Fun," "Backpacker," "Hemispheres," "Cooking Light," "Yankee" and more. An active member of the Society of American Travel Writers, she holds a Bachelor's from Michigan State University
