The 2025 Stowe TetraSki and Snow’Kart Program is off to an amazing start. We are so proud of all that was accomplished to get to this point, and so pleased to hear how much joy the program brings to participants.
Green Mountain Adaptive Sports (GMAS) and the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association (NDAA) collaborate and run the Stowe TetraSki and Snow’Kart program at Stowe Mountain Resort, independently from the resort’s ski school. The private lessons are administered and offered through our own certified trained staff. A morning and an afternoon sessions are offered daily three days a week, Monday-Thursday on non-holiday weeks.
TRAILS coaches train Stowe instructors in fitting.
The Stowe TetraSki, which was acquired through a grant, was designed at the University of Utah and is operated with a joystick or breath control. It offers independent skiing for people with complex physical disabilities due to physical injury or illness. The Tessier Snow’Kart represents another incredible piece of technology that can be independently operated with a one-hand control for all skill levels. The Snow’Kart was donated to our program. Having both skis enables us to match the skier’s ability to the ski, making our program offerings more comprehensive and complete.
The three ski instructors selected for this program took part in a vigorous 4-day training in early December, led by TRAILS Adaptive Sports instructors Nate Hanson and Cullen Robinson. It was a challenging time getting the training in, dealing with the lack of snow, and extreme cold temperatures. Upon the completion of the Stowe training, Cullen exclaimed, “I loved seeing everyone grow very quickly doing an extremely hard things! I’m looking forward to seeing this team grow with the TetraSki. Being able to grow with a sport or a piece of equipment along with your athletes is a really unique thing they get to do!”
From Dream to Reality
Cathy Webster, Cynthia Needham and Allie Peterson enjoy time together.
Cathy Webster has been the main force in getting the Stowe TetraSki program up and running. A physical therapist at the Rehab Gym in Colchester, Cathy has also been managing the NDAA and GMAS Adaptive Kayaking for many years. She was introduced to the TetraSki four years ago when she invited Nate Hanson to a series of demo days at Stowe. Seeing the joy the TetraSki brought to the skiers, she made it her mission to work with GMAS to acquire a TetraSki and so that more people with complex physical disabilities or injuries could enjoy the pleasures of skiing.
A VOREC grant secured in the summer of 2024 enabled the two collaborating Vermont non-profit adaptive sports organizations to purchase a TetraSki and start planning and programming for the upcoming season. Both Cathy and Cynthia Needham, GMAS’s president participated in the intense training along with the instructors to have a firm understanding of everything that is involved with the revolutionizing piece of equipment. Cathy’s main responsibility is to manage the very busy calendar, matching instructors’, and participants’ schedules, and to assist Cynthia in managing the grant.
Joy Joy Joy!
All bundled up, Patrick is enjoying the Snow’Kart at Stowe with instructor Sterling Anderson.
On lesson day, Cathy greets the athletes at the Adventure Center at Spruce Peak, making sure that they have all they will need for their lesson. At the fitting sessions, she provides valuable input from her extensive experience as a PT working with people with complex physical disabilities. She then skis along on the lessons, taking photos that she later shares with the skiers. “The calendar has been full from day one, and despite challenging conditions including strong winds, then sub zero temps, this motivated group of skiers and instructors continues to impress me!” says Cathy. “My husband had a great day today skiing. He has not stopped talking about it since he got home, you are amazing!,” relates a family member.
TetraSki and Snow’Kart skiers are provided with heated garments to keep them warm during the lessons. Despite the sometimes challenging conditions, participants have a blast. “This is my best experience skiing ever, even from before my spinal cord injury,” chimes one skier. “Skiing with Cathy and Tom might be the best medicine!” says another participant. “Today was the first morning in a very, very long time that I woke up with a smile on my face!” The happiness that this program brings is immeasurable, and all involved can’t wait to return for another lesson. “Everyone who has come has asked to be put on the cancellation list to get as many days on the snow as possible,” reports Cathy.
Rachel is loving every minute in the Snow’Kart.
Everyone from Vail at Stowe Mountain Resort is extremely welcoming of the Stowe TetraSki and Snow’Kart program. They provide a dedicated space for storage and assessments at the base of spruce mountain, making it easy and convenient to get on and off the snow. The lift attendants are attentive and responsive to our needs. We are extremely grateful for this support which is essential to provide a positive experience for the participants, and for the overall success of the program.
Meet the Instructors
Allie Peterson leads a lesson with an athlete in the TetraSki at the Stowe Monoski Camp.
Allie Peterson is in her last semester completing her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at the University of Vermont. Allie has been teaching skiing for 10 years, now exclusively teaching adaptive skiing in Vermont. “As I begin my career in occupational therapy, I hope to work in neurorehabilitation to continue to build relationships between the inpatient setting and adaptive sports programs to introduce patients to opportunities available to them upon discharge,” says Allie who is certified by the PSIA-AASI in Alpine Level 1, Adaptive Mono/Bi Ski Level 1, Child Specialist 1.
Allie adds, “I have been interested in working with the TetraSki for a few years and was excited to finally have the opportunity! My favorite part of training has been learning about all of the different configurations we can create with the set up to provide the maximum amount of independence for each individual who skis with us.”
Sterling Anderson, Tom Hall, and Allie Peterson followed the training at Stowe.
“I am excited to introduce more people to the sport of skiing, especially if they previously didn’t think skiing with independence was a possibility for them,” says Allie who is now also certified to teach with both the TetraSki and the Tessier Snow’Kart.
Sterling Anderson has been the Program Supervisor at Smugglers’ Notch Adaptive Program since 2021. The 26-year old Wolcott resident possesses certifications with the NOLS Field Faculty, and in Environmental Education with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. Of his experience at the TetraSki training, he comments, “It really did feel like drinking from a fire hose at times. It was great to get to work with such amazing training staff. I look forward to the opportunity to get a whole new group of people out on the slopes, and to increase the accessibility of the outdoors with some amazing new coworkers.”
Tom Hall and Amy enjoying their time skiing in the Snow’Kart.
Tom Hall is Stowe’s lead adaptive ski coach. He is also a GMAS Board member. This year, Tom attended SkiSpec as a coach, sharing his knowledge in the Learn to Ski program, teaching skiers with disabilities how to navigate a bi-ski down Breckenridge’s slopes. Tom also worked with a variety of military veterans trying adaptive skiing for the first time. Tom possesses a PSIA-AASI Level 2 in Alpine and each of the six adaptive disciplines (visual impairment, cognitive delay, mono- ski, bi-ski, three track and four track).
Tom is trying to raise $10,000 again this year in the GMAS Winter Challenge on Monday, March 24, 2025. He skis as many runs as humanly possible in one day off the Four Runner Quad at Stowe Mountain Resort. Make a donation to his campaign, he is fundraising to provide more instructor trainings this year.
Instructors Allie and Sterling skiing with Nate in the TetraSki.
Join our Team
GMAS is welcoming instructors interested in working with the TetraSki program and will offer scholarships to attend and get certified at the Move United Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge, Colorado next December. To make a donation to help us raise the funds for this important fundraiser, click here. To inquire about becoming an instructor next year, click here.
What’s Next for this program
Word is that efforts are already in the works to have the TetraSki introduced as a new discipline in the 2034 Paralympics held near Salt Lake City, at Snowbasin, Utah. With that as an ultimate goal, the community is now planning local, and regional races to give both athletes and instructors more experience ski racing.
Joe can’t get enough! He also loves ducking ropes and skiing untracked powder.
Four athletes, two in the TetraSki and two in the Tessier Snow’Kart along with two Stowe instructors will represent the Stowe program at Cannon Mountain in the East Coast Qualifier race on February 14-15, 2025. This is a new event, and a qualifier to The Brian McKenna TetraSki Express National Championship held at Powder Mountain, Utah each March. The giant slalom race includes manual, sip and puff, and joystick skiers. The TetraSki Express is named in honor of the indelible Brian McKenna — son, brother, friend, coworker and TetraSki athlete who redefined what was possible. Help us wish them luck!
Stowe is pleased to be breaking barriers, making history, and providing opportunities to our athletes to participate in the world’s biggest sporting stage. Thanks to all involved, we believe in you and are looking forward to growing this amazing program.
For more information, or to join our waiting list for lessons, click here.
Stowe, VT
January 26, 2025
Photos provided by Cathy Webster