Summer Programs : CCASC offers many adaptive sports opportunities in the summer , featuring day and weekend-long programs including kayaking , mountain-biking , fly-fishing , paddle-boarding , rock-climbing , camping , and hiking . Southern California Edison generously designated a secluded camping area on Shaver Lake for CCASC ’ s programs , facilitated our use of Balsam Forebay for fly-fishing and kayaking , and provided access to a fantastic mountain bike trail where participants can ride CCASC ’ s fleet of adaptive cross-country mountain bikes . We also have set up several climbing routes on a granite wall accessible from Shaver Lake by kayak .
Summer Programs : CCASC offers many adaptive sports opportunities in the summer , featuring day and weekend-long programs including kayaking , mountain-biking , fly-fishing , paddle-boarding , rock-climbing , camping , and hiking . Southern California Edison generously designated a secluded camping area on Shaver Lake for CCASC ’ s programs , facilitated our use of Balsam Forebay for fly-fishing and kayaking , and provided access to a fantastic mountain bike trail where participants can ride CCASC ’ s fleet of adaptive cross-country mountain bikes . We also have set up several climbing routes on a granite wall accessible from Shaver Lake by kayak .
On December 5 , 2015 , John Cook , better known as “ JC ” traveled to China Peak Mountain Resort with another wounded Veteran , Justin Bond , to check out the program at the Central California Adaptive Sports Center , having heard that CCASC had “ sit-skis ” in which persons with leg amputations , spinal cord injuries , and other disabilities that cause persons to have difficulty walking could learn to ski . JC has a “ below the knee ” amputation ( BKA ) of his right leg . The snow skiing experience was new to JC . Little did he know that he was about to begin an exciting new chapter in his life .
At 6 feet tall and 185 pounds , JC put his athleticism to the test and began skiing on a “ bi-ski ”, a device that has two skis mounted below a seat , connected by an articulating device and , in some cases , a suspension system similar to that of a motorcycle .
Within two days of instruction on the beginner slope , JC was able to steer and stop the bi-ski without an instructor ’ s direct assistance . He had progressed to the point where he required only an instructor to “ tether ” him from behind , using two 12-foot straps to assist with speed control .
In the winter of 2016 , JC continued his pursuit of mastering the bi-ski and progressed to being tethered on intermediate runs ( blue square ). By the end of that season , he was skiing solo , or “ untethered ” as it is called in the Adaptive world .
By the winter of 2017 , JC had switched over to a “ mono-ski ”, a device that has only one ski beneath the seat , and requires greater ability to balance than the bi-ski . In one season , JC became a “ phenom ” on the mono-ski and had achieved the status of a local celebrity at China Peak .
In December 2017 , JC traveled to the “ Hartford Ski Spectacular ” in Breckenridge , Colorado where he attended week-long clinics with hundreds of other wounded Veterans , culminating in a ski race at the end of the week . While JC had no intention of competing when he arrived , his confidence had increased to the point where he said : “ why not ?” So , he entered the competition . When the snow settled , JC and his team had won a Silver Medal .
JC has been an inspiration to us all , including all of the wounded veterans that he has brought to CCASC to help them “ re-discover ” life . Thank you JC for all that you have done .
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