Maine Handicapped Skiing becomes Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation

Jan 13, 2012 12:00 am

NEWRY- Maine Handicapped Skiing has changed its name to Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation, effective January 1. The growth and expansion of the 30-year-old organization's four-seasons activities and programs has prompted the development of its new identity program, including the name change, a new logo and an updated website, to be launched in early January.

Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation (Maine Adaptive) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded as Maine Handicapped Skiing (MHS) in 1982, to provide and promote adaptive recreation for people with physical disabilities. It began at Sunday River as a winter skiing program, and has since grown to include year-round programs at over 20 different locations statewide.

In 2011, the organization served over 400 people with disabilities and enlisted nearly 400 volunteer instructors in lessons in alpine and nordic skiing, snowshoeing, golf, paddling, cycling and fishing. All Maine Adaptive programs will remain entirely free of charge for participants, just as they have been since the first MHS ski lesson was offered at Sunday River Ski Resort more than 30 years ago.

“We've had a tremendous groth in the number of year-round activitieswe offer like cycling, paddle sports, golf and fishing, along with our 30-year focus on skiing,” said Ed Simmons, Maine Adaptive's board president. “These year-round sports and recreation programs reflect participants' interests all over the state and have become vital parts of fulfilling our organization's mission,” he said.

As part of its strategic focus on growing its statewide, year-round activities, Maine Adaptive will be launching a variety of new programs and recruitment initiatives. Thanks to the outstanding snowmaking capabilities of host alpine and nordic resorts, the start of Maine Adaptive's busiest program season has not been impeded by this year's unusual lack of natural snow. Moreover, this winter, the organization plans to expand its Nordic programs and the Veterans/No Boundaries program, and also to provide alpine lessons at Saddleback, Black Mountain of Maine and Camden Snow Bowl.

Chip Crothers, one of Maine Handicapped Skiing's founders, stated, “We'll always have adaptive skiing at the core of our mission. With so many different year-round activities taking place all over the state of Maine, the reference to sports and recreation will help us build on our 30-year commitment to skiing. We are also bringing more people into skiing after starting with our adaptive activities.”

“The idea of adapting is at the heart of what we do and it's great to have this powerful, proactive and positive concept become part of our new identity,” said Peter Adams, Executive Director of Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation. “We look closely with every one of our students to help them adapt and overcome their challenges,” he continued. “And this ability to adapt is embraced by all who come in contact with our organization.”

The full, public launch of the new name and logo will take place throughout this winter's program season, which started on January 2. There will be numerous programs and events throughout the ski season to help present the new brand and widen the scope of the organization's mission. A public celebration is planned as part of the organization's flagship annual fundraiser, the 27^th Annual Ski-A-Thon, to be held Saturday, March 24 at Sunday River Ski Resort.

Maine Adaptive will keep its current contact information in effect. A new website, www.maineadaptive.org and corresponding email addresses for staff, will be integrated in early January. Spaces are available for weekly, free lessons at Sunday River, Sugarloaf and Pineland. Anyone with a permanent physical disability age four and up is eligible and encouraged to participate.

For more information about Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation, pleas visit the website or email infor@skimhs.org or call 824-2440.