World T.E.A.M. Sports 2016 Annual Review World T.E.A.M. Sports Annual Report 2016 | Page 29

A paraplegic athlete, for instance,
may be very skilled at piloting a
hand cycle across rugged terrain,
but could have little experience in
rowing a raft. An able-bodied athlete
may be strong in hiking and running,
but have no practical experience in
identifying the best route through a
wilderness. Another athlete may feel
comfortable in reading topographical
maps and using a compass, but
then have no experience in riding
a bicycle off road on single-track
trails. Bringing these diverse
individuals together with a common
goal of cooperation and successful
completion of a stage creates a
strong bond between the members.
Notably, over ten years, Colorado’s
Challenge has run on varied courses
in the state’s high mountains and
western desert, and every team has
completed each stage within the
allotted time. Event organizers Billy
and Helene Mattison take pride in
creating unique courses that offer
a challenge but are not impossibly
difficult or intimidating. 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.
Although courses in New York
and suburban Washington D.C.
are suitably scaled down from
Colorado to assure the success
of their young adaptive athletes,
Colorado’s multiple stages still serve
as a model. Along the C&O Canal, 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
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.
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