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Mountain Top Telegraph e-Newsletter	www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org asfwindham@mhcable.com
April 2009

Welcome to the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s monthly newsletter. Keeping you informed of all the happenings here at the Adaptive Sports Foundation.

It was a banner year here at Windham Mountain. The snow conditions made for some of the best skiing and riding we’ve had for years. And despite the stormy conditions in the economy, ASF’s incredible volunteers and supporters still teamed up to provide top-notch programs for our students. Here are some of this season’s highlights.


Erin Jean Young	New Addition to the ASF Family! First, the news we had been eagerly awaiting since the beginning of the season; the birth of Erin Jean Young on March 2nd. This future skier (or rider) arrived at a healthy 19 and a half inches, weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Everyone here at ASF is just as pleased as can be, and our congratulations go out to Erin’s proud parents, ASF Executive Director Cherisse Young and ASF volunteer instructor and trainer, Augie Young.

Erin Jean Young

New Addition to the ASF Family!

First, the news we had been eagerly awaiting since the beginning of the season; the birth of Erin Jean Young on March 2nd. This future skier (or rider) arrived at a healthy 19 and a half inches, weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Everyone here at ASF is just as pleased as can be, and our congratulations go out to Erin’s proud parents, ASF Executive Director Cherisse Young and ASF volunteer instructor and trainer, Augie Young.

Click here to see Wounded Warriors Jeff Adams landing on Windham Mountain's Big Air Bag	*5th Annual Support Our Troops* Event** In what has become one of the most cherished events of the season, ASF teamed up again with the Fire Department of New York, the Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA to host permanently disabled United States military personnel for a weekend of skiing and riding at Windham Mountain in January. This year, we provided instruction to 15 Wounded Warriors and their families, four of whom were returning alumni of ASF events. The weekend started off with a meet-and-greet on Thursday evening at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center, where the Wounded Warriors and their families got to know each other and the staff, and visited the equipment room for custom fit adaptive equipment. Friday morning, the Warriors were visited by five major news networks as they hit the slopes, material that subsequently made the nightly news. Lunch was hosted by the National Amputee Foundation and included the National Anthem sung by the WAJ Central School first and third grade class, and a letter from US Army General David Petraeus read by the General’s childhood friend, Rick Hodge. Friday night everyone gathered at St. Theresa’s Church in Windham for a dinner hosted by the VFW and the Knights of Columbus, followed by a reception at the Brandywine restaurant. Saturday the Wounded Warriors hit the slopes again for more skiing and riding. A particularly awesome moment was when Jeff Adams, Shon Holler and Frank Washburn demonstrated their acrobatic chops on the Big Air Bag to the delight of onlookers. The Warriors skied and rode Sunday morning and departed, exhausted but happy.

Click here to see Wounded Warriors Jeff Adams landing on Windham Mountain's Big Air Bag

5th Annual Support Our Troops Event

In what has become one of the most cherished events of the season, ASF teamed up again with the Fire Department of New York, the Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA to host permanently disabled United States military personnel for a weekend of skiing and riding at Windham Mountain in January. This year, we provided instruction to 15 Wounded Warriors and their families, four of whom were returning alumni of ASF events.

The weekend started off with a meet-and-greet on Thursday evening at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center, where the Wounded Warriors and their families got to know each other and the staff, and visited the equipment room for custom fit adaptive equipment. Friday morning, the Warriors were visited by five major news networks as they hit the slopes, material that subsequently made the nightly news. Lunch was hosted by the National Amputee Foundation and included the National Anthem sung by the WAJ Central School first and third grade class, and a letter from US Army General David Petraeus read by the General’s childhood friend, Rick Hodge. Friday night everyone gathered at St. Theresa’s Church in Windham for a dinner hosted by the VFW and the Knights of Columbus, followed by a reception at the Brandywine restaurant. Saturday the Wounded Warriors hit the slopes again for more skiing and riding. A particularly awesome moment was when Jeff Adams, Shon Holler and Frank Washburn demonstrated their acrobatic chops on the Big Air Bag to the delight of onlookers. The Warriors skied and rode Sunday morning and departed, exhausted but happy.

Annual Gala and Silent Auction

This year our annual fundraiser was themed ‘Silver Screen’ in honor of our 25th anniversary. Guests enjoyed food from 20 different mountaintop restaurants at the ‘Taste of the Catskills.’ ASF volunteer Ron DiMiceli led a wine tasting, and there were auction items galore. This year, we also added five live auction items, including a Napa Valley wine-lovers tour and seats in the Delta Club at the new Citi Field.

2009 Hartman Tribute Race This year marked the 20th year for the Ralph Hartman Tribute Race. The race is open to all athletes with physical or mental disabilities, and took place on March 14th. This year, we had over 50 racers who wowed us with their skills on a beautiful sunny day. Ralph Hartman’s widow Barbara attended, watching the race from the finish line and taking part in the awards ceremony. An afternoon ceremony featured the presentation of ASF annual awards as well as race trophies. Awards were presented to Adam Smith for Rookie of the Year, Doug Layman for Outdoor Volunteer of the Year, Mike Murray for Indoor Volunteer of the Year, Jeffrey Resnick for Stu Smith Magic Man Award, and Anthony DiRenzo and Jennifer Romano for Robert Buff Donnelly awards. Congratulations to all of our award winners as well as to all racers. Jeffrey Resnick with US Paralympian Bonnie St. John	Barbara Hartman

2009 Hartman Tribute Race

This year marked the 20th year for the Ralph Hartman Tribute Race. The race is open to all athletes with physical or mental disabilities, and took place on March 14th. This year, we had over 50 racers who wowed us with their skills on a beautiful sunny day. Ralph Hartman’s widow Barbara attended, watching the race from the finish line and taking part in the awards ceremony. An afternoon ceremony featured the presentation of ASF annual awards as well as race trophies. Awards were presented to Adam Smith for Rookie of the Year, Doug Layman for Outdoor Volunteer of the Year, Mike Murray for Indoor Volunteer of the Year, Jeffrey Resnick for Stu Smith Magic Man Award, and Anthony DiRenzo and Jennifer Romano for Robert Buff Donnelly awards. Congratulations to all of our award winners as well as to all racers.

Jeffrey Resnick with US Paralympian Bonnie St. John

Barbara Hartman

Staci Mannella and her guide Kim Seevers on the podium at the 2009 US Adaptive National Championships.

ASF Rising Star Competes at Nationals

12-year-old visually impaired skier Staci Mannella, who attended the Learn to Race camp in Breckenridge last December, returned to Colorado in March to compete in the U.S. Adaptive National Championships in Winter Park. Staci raced in the junior category and was accompanied by Kim Seevers, ASF’s Operations Director, who is Staci’s guide. Staci trained for 3 days, then competed in both the slalom and giant slalom races. She won a silver medal in slalom, but a spectacular crash kept her from completing the giant slalom. The crash, however, is sure to make her ‘best of’ clip, and she won’t let it stop her as she’s eager to get right back on the GS course! Former ASF racer Caitlin Sarubbi also competed in the championships in the open division for visually impaired racers. Caitie took five silver medals in the competition.

Improvements to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center are Underway

The Adaptive Sports Center is expanding to meet the needs of our growing program! The third floor is being renovated to create new office space and a new sitting area. The drainage on the ASF property will be improved which will allow Silverman Way to be crowned and compacted later this summer. Participants and volunteers will no longer have to dodge frost heaves and maneating potholes on their way up to the Center! If you would like to contribute to the construction budget, feel free to do so with a secure online donation by clicking here.

The "new and improved" Silverman Way

Summer Volunteers Needed

We are gearing up for a summer season full of fun and sun. We need help to provide cycling and paddling lessons on weekends for our students. Also coming up this summer are two Wounded Warrior events. In June we will be holding the second Women's Wounded Warrior weekend, a golf and yoga retreat for female vets. Our Support our Troops watersports event will be held in August on Burden Lake, just outside Albany, featuring waterskiing, windsurfing and paddling for permanently injured vets and their families. These events are made possible with the generous support of our donors. If you’d like to donate to this great cause, you can do so with a secure online donation by clicking here. If you’re interested in volunteering to instruct, please email Pam Greene at pgreene@mhcable.com.