The 2019 U.S. Paralympics Nordic Nationals brought paralympic athletes from around the country to the Craftsbury, VT, Outdoor Center in January. It is always great to see the strength of mind, body and spirit these athletes — who compete despite impairments that range from partial paralysis to diminished sight — put into the competition. Top, Dan Cnossen, an Annapolis graduate and Navy SEAL who lost his legs to an IED in Afghanistan, competes on his sit-ski. Below, Greg Durso makes it up a hill with help from his coach; Joy Rondeau tucks and concentrates on a downhill; Dan Cnossen’s prosthetic legs; New Hampshire’s Nick Fairall, a former international ski jumper who lost the use of his legs after a jumping fall. Click here for a gallery. Click here for more on the US paralympic nordic team.
Category Archives: Paralympics
US Paralympics #2 & Gallery
Andy Soule prepares for a race at the US Paralympics Nordic Skiing Festival at the Craftsbury, VT, Outdoor Center. Saturday was the fourth and final day of the competition. Soule, who joined the Army after Sept. 11, 2001, lost his legs to an IED while serving in Afghanistan. He was a medalist in the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver. Below: Derek Zaplotinsky of Alberta, Canada, takes a downhill on a sit-ski; Craftsbury Green Team racer Hallie Grossman, left, with visually impaired skier Mia Zutter of Sun Prairie, WI, whom she guided on the race course; Mathieu St. Pierre of Quebec; and, at bottom, Minnesota’s Aaron Pike carves a corner on one ski. Contestants competed in cross-country ski racing and biathlon (skiing combined with target shooting). Click here for a gallery/slide show. Click here for information on the US Paralympics nordic team.
US Nordic Paralympics
I photographed day one of the four-day US Paralympics Nordic Skiing Festival at Craftsbury (VT) Outdoor Center today. It was a beautiful sunny day with inspiring athletes racing on snow in the sit-ski and standing categories. Some will be heading to Europe later this winter for World Cup competition. I will post a gallery from the event later, but here are a few from today.
