World T.E.A.M. Sports 2016 Annual Review World T.E.A.M. Sports Annual Report 2016 | Page 27

NO. 6
BE YOU
LEFT:
Team members at Adventure
Team Challenge Colorado.
For athletes both with and without disabilities,
A paraplegic
athlete, for
instance, outdoor
actively
participating
in stimulating
Notably, over ten years, Colorado’s
may be such
very as
skilled
at piloting
a
sports
cycling,
sea kayaking,
river
Challenge has run on varied courses
hand cycle
rugged
terrain,
rafting
and across
climbing
can help
build confidence
in the state’s high mountains and
but well
could
little physical
experience
as
as have
improve
and in mental western
fitness. desert, and every team has
rowing a raft. An able-bodied athlete completed each stage within the
Athletes
at each in World
Sports event
may be strong
hiking T.E.A.M.
and running,
allotted time. Event organizers Billy
may
momentarily
find experience
themselves in
challenged
but have
no practical
and Helene Mattison take pride in
by
the difficulty,
but route
supportive
teamwork
from unique courses that offer
identifying
the best
through
a
creating
other
athletes
provides
the encouragement
to
wilderness.
Another
athlete
may feel a challenge
but are not impossibly
be
successful.
adaptive
and able-bodied
comfortable
in With
reading
topographical
difficult or intimidating.
athletes
working
toward
maps and
using a together
compass,
but common
goals,
each no
inspires
the other
to additional
then have
experience
in riding
Although courses in New York
achievements.
a bicycle off road on single-track
and suburban Washington D.C.
trails. Bringing these diverse
are suitably scaled down from
By
focusing together
on individual
as
individuals
with a challenges,
common such
Colorado
to assure the success
completing
a stage at
Colorado’s
Adventure
Team
goal of cooperation
and
successful
of their
young adaptive athletes,
Challenge
a steep
of
completion or of ascending
a stage creates
a hill at Face
Colorado’s
multiple stages still serve
America,
athletes
discover
they can overcome
strong bond
between
the members.
as a model. Along the C&O Canal,
doubts and have the confidence to undertake
even greater challenges.
LEFT: Cycling at the Adventure Team Challenge Colorado.
TOP: Getting boats ready at Adventure Team Challenge
New York. ABOVE: Team members at Adventure Team
Challenge D.C.
athletes learn team paddling
skills to quickly navigate the half-
mile course by canoe. In New York,
a special challenge—climbing the
Catskill’s highest peak—is offered
each year. Only the most dedicated
of the young athletes undertake this
challenge, given the 1,900 feet of
elevation gained by the foot trail in
only three miles. Remarkably, these
athletes successfully summit Notch
Mountain, earning a commanding
view of the surrounding range.
Through participation in
these Challenge events, athletes
in Colorado, New York and
Washington, D.C. learn that having
a goal, and meeting that goal
thanks to their effort, can translate
to richer, more fulfilling lives.
REVIEW
ABOVE:
An adaptive rider pedals
through Arlington National
Cemetery at Face of America.
27