“Life’s short, Live it Fast” | Andrew Kurka, Representing the U.S. at the Paralympics

With the Olympic games long gone, and Putin invading Ukraine, its easy to forget that some of our American athletes are still in Sochi. Yes the Paralympic games begin in two days and stretch from March 7th to the 16th in Sochi. Andrew Kurka is currently representing the United States with the help High Fives in Sochi at the Paralympic Games in the Adaptive Ski division, and has been unheard of for the most part unfortunately. I had to opportunity to speak with Andrew over the last few weeks heading into the games and would like to share his amazing story along with our friends up north, Sons of Winter Productions. 

Andrew Kurka was born and raised in Homer, Alaska, and started wresting when he was eight years old. By the time he was thirteen, he had won five state championships, and had a dream of one day competing in the Olympics. His coach at the time, the late “Coach Wolf” told him, “there will always be someone better”, which inspired Andrew to work to become the best in the world, if even for a moment. However his dreams of wrestling in the Olympics were soon dashed.

When he was 13, Andrew broke his back in a 4-wheeler accident in Alaska, he fractured his spine from T10-12. While in physical therapy, his therapist convinced him to try skiing, something he was opposed to at first, “skiing is for pansies…” he said, however he was quickly convinced… when he was 16 he went skiing for the first time and realized anything was possible. From there he was determined to try anything, even if it meant doing it a bit differently. Andrew’s skiing career really didn’t take off until he was 19, it started to become expensive, and thats where High Fives stepped in, providing Andrew with everything he needed for a solid base in his career. This year with the help of High Fives, Andrew Kurka is in Sochi representing the United States in Adaptive Skiing, and we wish him the best of luck along with his teammates. 

Career Highlights

• 2014: World Cup Panorama, 1st downhill; World Cup Tignes, France, 5th downhill; NorAm Aspen, 2nd downhill; NorAm Winter Park, 5th slalom; U.S. National Championships, 1st downhill
• 2013: Named to 2013-14 U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Team
• 2012: NorAm Copper Mountain, 2nd super-G; World Cup, 10th giant slalom

Life’s short, live it fast….

-Andrew Kurka