National Ability Center, UT, Announces 2024 High-Performance Team and Competition Schedule

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Adaptive snowboarding athletes at Park City, UT. | Picture: supplied by NAC
The National Ability Center (‘NAC’), Utah, a leading non-profit organization that provides world-class adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals, families and groupswith disabilities, announced its 2024 High-Performance Team Roster and Competition Schedule today, Wednesday, December 6, 2023. For those interested in watching the team in action, the High-Performance Team will be competing in the following competitions:

 Alpine Ski

  • Jan. 3-5, 2024: Winter Park Open in Winter Park, Colorado
  • Feb. 13-16, 2024: Kimberley Speed Series at Kimberley Resort in British Columbia, Canada
  • Feb. 26-28, 2024: Huntsman Cup hosted by the NAC in Park City, Utah
  • April 8-12, 2024: U.S. Para Nationals in Winter Park, Colorado

Snowboard

  • Feb. 5-7, 2024: Pyha World Cup in Pyha, Finland
  • March 22-24, 2024: Big White Para World Cup (Welcome to Paradise) in Big White, Canada

“This season will be unlike any other with the use of the new McGrath Mountain Center. The High-Performance Team was already receiving generous support from the NAC, Park City Mountain and the community, but this upgrade will allow our athletes to work closer towards their highest potential with personal locker room facilities and ample storage space for adaptive equipment. With the community’s support of the NAC and their programming through community events and donations, the NAC is able to create life changing experiences for people with disabilities and lead these athletes to their competition goals.”
— Colton Bradley, National Ability Center Snowboard Head Coach

The NAC also announced a new alpine ski head coach, Rob Umstead, with 30 years of coaching experience, and 40 years of overall experience being an athlete. Umstead was introduced to adaptive skiing when watching a sit skier in Taos, New Mexico compete. When Umstead moved to Park City in 2006 to work with the Park City Ski Team, he took interest in the National Ability Center and got involved on the hiring committee for his predecessor, Erik Leirfallom, now the para sports director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team.

“Good skiing is good skiing. All skiers, whether adaptive or able bodied, have to learn the mandatory basics and right mechanics. I’ve had the pleasure of coaching both adaptive and able bodied skiers, and there is something truly special about working with adaptive athletes. In this role, I’m able to find unique ways to help these athletes meet their personal goals based on learning their capabilities and utilizing the skill set they have. I’m honored to be given the opportunity to coach the High-Performance team, expanding my passion for working with adaptive athletes.”
— Rob Umstead

Adaptive alpine skiing athletes in training. | Picture: supplied by NAC
Members of the National Ability Center’s High-Performance teams are listed below, with asterisks recognizing the Paralympians:
  • Cassie Eckroth; alpine ski
  • Danelle Umstead; alpine ski*
  • Hailey Griffin; alpine ski
  • Miranda Ritter; alpine ski
  • Paige VanArsdale; alpine ski
  • Shelby Estocado; alpine ski
  • Aidan O’Shea; alpine ski
  • Saylor O’Brien; alpine ski*
  • Gilbert Camacho; alpine ski
  • Orlando Perez; alpine ski*
  • Takehisa Matsuda; alpine ski
  • Tanner Hopson; alpine ski
  • Logan Knowles, alpine ski
  • Tyler McKenzie; alpine ski
  • Zach Williams; alpine ski
  • Abby Duffy; alpine ski
  • Annika Hutsler; alpine ski
  • Matt Brewer; alpine ski*
  • Jonathan Leonard; alpine ski
  • Brenden Boyle; alpine ski
  • Andrew Haragehy; alpine ski*
  • Izy Hicks; snowboard
  • Nicole Raab; snowboard
  • Thomas Wilson; snowboard
  • Jamie Blanek; snowboard
The National Ability Center is situated in Park City, Utah, and has a satellite location in Moab, Utah. The NAC empowers over 5,400 competitive athletes, children, active-duty, veterans and others each year through on-campus and community-based programming, with individual and group activities, participants build self-esteem, confidence and lifetime skills. The NAC hosts over 30,000 experiences and lessons each year including alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, cycling, swimming, rafting, archery, among others. In 2023, the 9,400 square foot McGrath Mountain Center opened to serve the NAC’s adaptive ski and snowboard programs, made possible by a historic 50-year land lease donated by Vail Resorts.
US alpine athlete Danelle Umstead with her husband and guide Rob, the new alpine head coach for NAC. | Picture: International Paralympic Committee
Posted by SnowBrains |

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