This month’s spotlight is Christian Cahoon! Christian received an Active Fund grant in 2024 for a monoski so he can spend time outside with his daughters in the mountains of Montana! 

Christian is a participant with the DreamAdaptive program in Whitefish, Montana, where he was drawn in by skiing but has also participated in the mountain bike program. “The goal when I started learning to ski on a monoski a few years ago was to be able to go skiing with my daughters,” Christian shares. His eldest daughter started skiing a few years ago, “which really has motivated me to get better at sit skiing.”

With his new monoski, Christian was able to ski with both of his daughters, including being there for his youngest’s first-time ever skiing! “They both love skiing and have been talking and anxiously waiting for snow with goals of skiing as much as we can this winter!” he says. 

For Christian, skiing with his friends and family allows him to fully engage in an activity without compromise. On the mountain, the focus shifts away from limitations and toward shared challenge, growth, and joy. As he explains, “Being able to do an activity that isn’t watered down by my disability is something that is quite difficult. But with skiing, we can all challenge ourselves and enjoy our time out on a mountain.”

Having his own monoski has been a game-changer for Christian, both on the slopes and beyond. With consistent access to equipment tailored to him, his skiing ability has continued to grow, bringing confidence and renewed motivation. As Christian shared, “The progress that I made last year in my skiing ability has been really encouraging in the way of showing me that I will be able to enjoy activities that my loved ones can enjoy with me without having to settle for less.”

Christian’s story reminds us that sports are more than just getting active; they’re about spending time with the ones you love and feeling a sense of encouragement to do what makes us happy!