For many of these developmentallyand physically-disabled teenaged athletes, participating in a friendly competition involving bicycles, hiking and water craft is something they’ ve only dreamed about. With the assistance of nonprofit partners like The Center for Discovery in New York and Best Buddies Capital Region in suburban Washington, energetic adaptive athletes are teamed with able-bodied coaches who participate alongside them as they bicycle on unpaved paths, paddle canoes and boats on waterways and complete obstacle courses.
TOP: Adventure Team Challenge New York athletes find challenge in a climbing tower. BOTTOM: Athletes at the Adventure Team Challenge in Colorado assist an adaptive athlete up a steeply-climbing trail. RIGHT: Adaptive and able-bodied athletes stretch at the beginning of the Dralla Foundation Adventure Team Challenge Washington, D. C.
to assist and support their adaptive colleagues through backcountry terrain. Crossing the finish line on Sunday, each athlete has immense pride in their accomplishments.
Since the inaugural Challenge in 2007, participating athletes have included military veterans, corporate employees and outdoor adventure-seekers. Each builds upon their personal skills and experiences to create a supportive team that can successfully undertake any obstacle along the route. There are no limits to outdoor adventure when individuals apply their skills and knowledge cooperatively.
In less remote terrain in New York’ s Catskill Mountains and along the historic C & O Canal in suburban Washington, D. C., similar, yet more gentle, team competitions under the Adventure Team Challenge banner provide younger adaptive athletes their own transformative experiences.
Since New York’ s first Adventure Team Challenge in 2010 and Washington, D. C.’ s first in 2011, more than 200 adaptive teens have successfully completed these inclusive events. Parents often attend to cheer on and support their children, but it is the competing athletes who benefit the most. Many have never before ventured off paved sidewalks, rode bicycles or helped paddle a canoe or boat. The Challenge offers these athletes the opportunity to expand their knowledge and appreciation of the world and to recognize the value of outdoor sports in their lives. For the participating able-bodied coaches, they see and recognize how adaptive athletes can inspire everyone, including themselves.
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