This month, the KBF team attended another Hartford Ski Spectacular, conducted by Move United. It was a week that reminded us just how powerful adaptive sports can be when community, opportunity, and fun come together. KBF sponsored three athletes, Kadesha, Brian, and Sam, to take part in the Learn to Ski Program. For participant Brian, the impact was immediate. “The most meaningful part of this trip for me was getting to meet so many new and wonderful people and building connections and friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime,” he shared.

As KBF Chief Program Ambassador Greg explained, “Each year Ski Spec is hard to put into words, as it offers something truly special. It unites the adaptive community while showcasing and creating opportunities that many didn’t even know were possible.” That sense of possibility was everywhere, from the base of the mountain to the chairlift rides to the drinks shared at the après. Brian echoed that feeling, noting that “the sense of community that you get at an event like this is hard to find, and it truly gives you hope and excitement for the future and what it may hold.”

Throughout the week, the three athletes learned alongside top adaptive ski instructors from across the country. “Watching Sam, Brian, and Kadesha try skiing and progress in their own ways brought me back to my early days, and also made me so excited as I saw their enormous smiles,” KBF Founder Kelly reflected. For Brian, those moments on snow stood out just as strongly. “I absolutely love being on the slope skiing and feeling the sense of freedom,” he shared. For two of the athletes, this marked their first time sliding on snow since their injury, making every turn and every smile especially meaningful.

Watching that progression is what makes Ski Spectacular so special. “For me, it’s so impactful to watch our participants progress in a new sport that I love, while also helping integrate them into the community I love,” Greg said. “The best of both worlds.” Brian captured that same balance between sport and connection, saying that being around like-minded people and drawing inspiration from others was just as powerful as skiing itself.

Beyond learning to ski or skiing fast, Ski Spectacular is also about connection. While our athletes were out learning, the KBF team spent time meeting with members of the KBF community, adaptive sports instructors, and equipment vendors from across the world. Kelly reflected on the unique energy of the week, saying, “Ski Spec is a special week. Not only did we have three incredible athletes there learning to ski, but we also got to interact and connect with so many programs and adaptive sports manufacturers all in one place.” For Brian, those connections are what will last long after the snow melts. “I can’t wait for the next event like this that I can be a part of,” he said.

Skiing has a way of bringing people together, and our week at the Hartford Ski Spectacular captured that spirit fully. As Kelly shared, “Skiing is a special sport that brings the community together, and the KBF experiences at Ski Spec are a perfect example of this.”