Skiing Without Limits: Inside the Life-Changing Work of Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports
In Ogden, we are removing barriers for people with disabilities through life-changing outdoor sports and recreation opportunities.
Every skier knows what that first time feels like; trying to navigate an icy world while wrestling with a pile of unfamiliar gear…and that’s just in the parking lot. They remember the awkwardness of those first few lessons on the bunny hill. They may have forgotten the name of their first blue run, but they remember the feeling of it; most skiers chase that feeling of independence and freedom from then on.
Now, imagine experiencing all of those “firsts” with a developmental, psychological or physical disability. How many ski resort parking lots could you navigate in a wheelchair? How many crowded base areas could you navigate while blindfolded? Imagine if figuring out “pizza” and “french fries” also came with the realization that your current prosthetic leg is only capable of “french fries.”
However, as amplified as the early frustrations might be, the exhilaration that eventually comes with proficiency can be life changing for a disabled skier.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=e4adcaa5c9b6637aa2e186d863908313 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=db4a084637cce2e1dd80816166c3b81a 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=9851e5edb4153c9abe0322b299e2487d 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=bf2baaced250e3962cf60f124e50da99 1024w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=d81c3663894627d687fbdf01dfbadf85 1200w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1440&s=d6570d94c4938af3b70e238cd94d1a8b 1440w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1920&s=a287ba3effa55889c11dc96049d1d58d 1920w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-2-Blind-Skier.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=2560&s=43cc3c423482fd89a0850cf29e288f12 2048w)
Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports provides access to gear, instruction and guides for disabled nordic and alpine skiers every season. While the organization’s 30+ professional instructors and 60+ volunteers operate at Ogden Nordic, Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley, the bulk of their work is done at Snowbasin Resort.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=baeb081318e23e8012bf6ed34581f8a3 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=8cf05f2d9cb5881290e405a8b22a36a5 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=947782d8c9b51ec36a35e5ebbd92ae63 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=0dd17993c65816bf579c05226ca40216 1024w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=014a9be35edd08bf3d5a4c3ac29060df 1200w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1440&s=4b0bcb47956d56c4e37bcfc1389ffee9 1440w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1920&s=0113d86a501c6d660cb954541df6e95b 1920w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-3-Wheelchairs.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=2560&s=dd59e3bc499d366e2f84b1620661d95d 2048w)
Abundant handicap parking adjacent to heated ramps and Snowbasin’s heated main plaza keep access open even during epic storms. It’s evident that accessibility is baked-in, not bolted-on at Snowbasin. Accessibility is clearly a core value, not minimal compliance.
The mission of OVAS is simple: Remove barriers for people with disabilities through life-changing outdoor sports and recreation opportunities.
We recently spent a morning at Snowbasin, skiing with OVAS Executive Director, Alex Davenport, along with several people he has infected with his passion for this work including members of his staff, board of directors, instructors, guides and clients.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=d475e1041362bd4e90dfbd6bef89f9a1 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=7a243aefdc440fe54e485b273bd53749 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=68f79a898245c1fad07e1f5becbb7dde 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=6476ef590bae4a6d94e06ae5a792cc92 1024w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=5fcd1a05c5e4cb9e073eb6536ae0b895 1200w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1440&s=68c5866df47c274ccb916dccbf22a372 1440w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1920&s=50812b143782c185815306dbe74d3183 1920w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=2560&s=ae0919cc8a1595126958408fdfd6cbf5 2560w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-4-Skiers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=3840&s=120eab5d0796df11b3321921574ee7de 3000w)
Their blaze orange uniform jackets are hard to miss, and their friendliness is impossible to ignore. Every liftie knows the OVAS team and instantly becomes brighter when they approach. If you happen to share a gondola car or chairlift with Alex, you’re going to know all about OVAS by the time you get to the top…but not in a pushy way. You’ll just be instantly intrigued by his energy and the twinkle he gets in his eye when he talks about the impact of adaptive sports.
Prior to his arrival in Ogden in 2020, OVAS was providing around 300 adaptive skier days per season. Since his arrival that number has grown to over 600…and OVAS has expanded to summer programming including mountain biking, hiking, paddling, climbing and golf.
A day of adaptive skiing with OVAS is priced at $125. This includes lift access, professional instructors, gear, guides, etc. The actual cost of the services is $490. OVAS makes up the difference through a complexity of grant funding, corporate underwriting, in-kind donations, fundraising auctions and events, and the generosity of donors.
After a morning shredding powder with mono-skiers and watching students from the nearby Ogden School for the Deaf & Blind experience their first time on skis, Alex showed us the extensive collection of gear maintained by OVAS and gave us additional insights into the organization’s challenges, staff and operations.
And then there’s the stories…
Heart-wrenching tales of parents’ eyes filling with tears at seeing the joy of a disabled child doing something they never believed possible. Accounts of disabled veterans discovering physical mobility they thought long gone. Lives changed.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-6-Alex.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=3ba652048b5c96909821827f883c3075 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-6-Alex.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=7c9c97f7dd3de303df4c47eede62a08e 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-6-Alex.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=010729f6d3f665ff779d55c7b2dff09f 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-6-Alex.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=40ee8eb05a00b6db17c56af114e6082a 1024w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-6-Alex.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=f0a604be308110b76dbf69c47ecff44e 1200w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-6-Alex.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1440&s=fc1fd08442b11ea5c5be5eb097d04c96 1280w)
Next time your lift stops for 30 seconds, smile knowing that you’re likely sharing it with an OVAS skier, instructor and/or volunteer guide, and someone is likely having a transformative experience.
Better yet, head over to the OVAS website to learn more about this amazing organization and its programming. Get their events on your calendar…and while you’re there, make a donation.
![](https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=320&s=6384f1ecaa3f325a734adb23543504d5 320w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=540&s=557865d1d18a5c07f6cb4ed14e24a2f0 540w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=768&s=b4d9b48398ee1e1b86280254510b6cc3 768w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1024&s=c7c64dd2c32252005820e10d2ea2c647 1024w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=767d5009268811e185b0cbbc8ca4863d 1200w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1440&s=41de4477ae3174272c29509c8ff85760 1440w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1920&s=b74b8661a866d45e19010aa17368a4e7 1920w, https://visit-ogden.imgix.net/images/blog-images/OVAS-7-Gear.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=2560&s=0e8c5e63036c43803098180ffd619214 2000w)
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