STRIDE Heads to the Winter State Games

STRIDE ADAPTIVE SPORTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS SKI TEAM HEADS TO WINTER STATE GAMES

Rensselaer, NY – February 17th 2016 – Local youth with disabilities have an exciting new way to pursue their athletic potential through a Special Olympics Ski Team organized and run by STRIDE Adaptive Sports.

One of New York’s leading providers of sports opportunities for individuals with disabilities, STRIDE has been offering adaptive ski lessons since the organization’s inception in 1985. Of STRIDE’s 16+ different sports programs, STRIDE’s ski and snowboard program regularly attracts the most participants each winter, with lessons taught at Jiminy Peak (MA), Catamount (NY/MA), and Ski Sundown (CT).

STRIDE launched the Special Olympics team this season by expanding its existing adaptive race team design and training 23 instructors to be New York Special Olympic coaches.  Within the STRIDE race team, 5 athletes with intellectual disabilities will be attending New York Special Olympics races. The team attended the Regional Winter Games in January at West Mountain in Queensbury, NY. The team brought back 9 medals!

Through Special Olympics race participation, STRIDE seeks to help participants take their skiing skills to the next level through friendly & supportive competition.  Special Olympics of New York (SONY) is the largest program of all the Special Olympics programs in the United States and among the largest in the world.  STRIDE currently sends its swim team, the STRIDE Stingrays, to SONY games at the local, regional, and state levels every year.  In addition, the organization has recently formed a Special Olympics bowling team that has had positive experiences attending SONY tournaments.

STRIDE participants and their families are excited for the Winter State Games sponsored by SONY. With these competitions, STRIDE athletes have new athletic opportunities. The Winter State Games are held in Poughkeepsie and Monticello, NY on February 19-21^st.

“We are very excited for this new opportunity that has been provided for our daughter. We never thought she would be competing this competitively,” said STRIDE parent, Frank Curran. “Our family is overjoyed that Anna will have this opportunity to be competitive at such a high level through STRIDE and the Special Olympics.”

The team will compete at the SONY Winter State Games February 20^th at Holiday Mountain in Monticello, NY. The public is encouraged to attend these events and support the team!

Celebrating 30 years, STRIDE Adaptive Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides over 8,000 adaptive sport and recreation lessons each year to individuals with disabilities, focusing on youth and Wounded Warriors. With a focus on individual life-time sports, STRIDE programs use specialized equipment or teaching aids for successful participation to “level the playing field” for all.  STRIDE is a partner member of Disabled Sports USA and Professional Ski Instructors of America; a US Paralympic Sport Club; a training club for New York Special Olympics; and an official Red Cross provider. STRIDE is recognized as one of the leading adaptive sport programs in the Northeastern United States.  

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Regards,

Melissa Lachanski 
Program Manager
STRIDE Adaptive Sports
476 North Greenbush Road, Rensselaer NY 12144
Office (518) 598-1279
Fax (518) 391-2563
www.stride.org