Throwback Thursday! With the start of the 2014 Sochi Paralympics upon us, it seems fitting to showcase one of the trail blazing adaptive athletes in alpine skiing — our own “Z!” She skied on BILATERAL ABOVE KNEE PROSTHETIC LEGS in the 70’s and 80’s, way before computerized knees and specialized sports equipment, and helped pave the way for approval of Standing Class in Para-Alpine Downhill Skiing.

“I attended a Ski Demo in Oslo, Norway in Feb 1980, ‘The Olympic Winter Games for Disabled,'” Z remembers. “The International Sports Federation of the Disabled (ISOD) wanted to prove that bilateral AK amputees could ski safely in race conditions. At that time they were not eligible. ISOD had been founded by the International War Veterans Association in 1964. I was recommended for the demo by Hal O’Leary, Winter Park, Colorado Handicap Ski Program director. The success of Allen Hayes and I at this demo was part of documentation submitted in order to request and gain approval of Standing Class in Para-Alpine Downhill Skiing. Current Paralympic Standing Classification is: LW 1 Double leg amputation above the knee, moderate to severe cerebral palsy, or equivalent impairment, two skis, two outriggers.”