Testimonials

OAS Testimonials

A BIG thank you to OAS and all of the volunteers who made such an awesome day for our kids today at Hoodoo! Maddy had an awesome time and skied her heart out. When I was pregnant with her and found out she would have Spina Bifida, there was a time I thought about all the things she "couldn't" do- skiing was one of those things that came to mind. Thank you for helping it make it be something she CAN and will continue to do and love. You guys are awesome! And a big thank you to "Captain Underpants" Nancy Majors Summerville

A Huge Thank You for an awesome day on the slopes of Hoodoo. Our daughter Kayla had the best time of her life. She loved the jumps and making her Moms stomach go in knots. She went down almost every hill on the mountain. She's already asking to go back. A million thank yous for all who put this together and to the volunteers that dedicate their time and patients with our kiddos. Thank you again.  Brandi Bolnick

Thank you Jeremy Holbrook and OAS for giving our daughter Gracie the most amazing and fun day yesterday at Hoodoo. This experience for her brought tears to my eyes, and Im so thankful for the gracious and giving hearts for kids like ours.  Mandy Straus

“The best thing to happen – that I believe our staff can all agree on – are the 8 PALS who were able to get on the mountain because of our new and awesome partnership with Oregon Adaptive Sports. Some of them got to check off a bucket list item as they had never been on the slopes before in their lives… some got to fill their “need for speed” and one, Ed Zauner, who turns 80 this year was awarded with being the oldest – and definitely, the happiest – on the slopes. He was giggling like a young man every run he got to take.  ALS Association of SW Washington and Oregon

Thank you for making dreams come true.  Kathy Coleman York

Thanks OAS for all your hard work yesterday at the Ski to Defeat ALS. It was very special to me, our organization, and the people we serve to see people living with ALS skiing Mt. Hood Meadows. Thank you so much for all you do. -Carroll Casbeer

Today Oregon Adaptive Sports helped 7 people living with ALS experience the freedom and joy of movement at the Ski to Defeat ALS at Mt. Hood Meadows. It was an amazing day and we are grateful to OAS for the gift of movement you were able to share today. Jeremy, the team and all the volunteers were incredible. On behalf of everyone at The ALS Association Oregon & SW Washington Chapter, THANK YOU! You were all fantastic. Lance W Christian

Every year we take our adult son to Batchelor for a half day of skiing.  This year the weather was perfect and his two OAS guides were just as perfect.  Right now their names escape me, but I'd like to thank everyone in OAS who are so patient & understanding with people who have, unfortunately, been burdened with a disability, whether it physical or mental.  This experience makes them feel great, & it also gives them a joyous time & they come away feeling very proud about themselves.You are all the angels from above ....  Sincerely,  The Kistners III

I am proud to be one of the many volunteers at Oregon Adaptive Sports. It is through our hard work and dedication that we are able to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to learn how to ski. We have a working board of directors and an enthusiastic group of local volunteers that are committed to helping people participate in outdoor recreation and have fun. By way of fundraising, we have acquired state of the art adaptive ski equipment that offers each student in our program a quality ski experience. Our partner since 2003, Hoodoo Ski Area further enables OAS by generously providing us with a base of operation for our students and their families. The supportive and friendly staff at Hoodoo makes a day on the mountain a truly memorable experience. Our goal at OAS is to make skiing accessible for everyone. By order of importance, we promote safety, fun, and learning, and cater to student’s individual needs. Please join us and discover the power of skiing!
Board Member – Kendall Cook

Prior to last ski season, my base perspective and attitude towards life was one of defeat and pacifism. Having a progressive degenerative disease--Muscular Dystrophy--as I do brought me to that tone with life…until I got an email from a friend, referring me to OAS. I was an incredibly inexperienced skier (on my first day with OAS) and couldn’t ski on my own, it was all bucket assist but that meant little to me. Something in my Canadian blood started to pump that day and from then on I couldn’t get enough…OAS has changed my life in more ways than I am able to convey. I feel as though I have been given a second chance at life. Some of my best friends have been created out of OAS and some of the best people I know volunteer for OAS. It is a genuinely good program that has rearranged my life perspectives drastically for the better…I know I will be skiing and living life to its fullest this winter and I know OAS will be right there with me making it happen.
Participant and wheelchair athlete – Gabe Rousseau

I have been paralyzed from the waist down since shortly before Christmas of 1987. I don’t take my short time on this Earth for granted any more. I got into adaptive sports right out of the shoot (hospital), and had no clue of the bounty of recreation still available for a paraplegic. OAS gives me the opportunity to take the gifts of adaptive recreation, pay them forward and light new candles. The glow on a disabled child’s face after a day on the mountain is priceless. I look forward to working closely with our organization and to bring the gift of outdoor recreation to persons with disabilities.
Former Board Member and wheelchair athlete – Carl Backstrom

I joined the OAS team in the summer of 2003 when I moved back to Bend, OR. I had been involved in the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School during the past two years and was really excited to help out in the local program here in Bend. I myself am a disabled skier so I am able to benefit personally from the program as well. I have such a positive attitude towards the good OAS does, the amazing people we encounter, the happiness we bring to other’s lives and the progress we have ahead of us as an organization.
Board Member and wheelchair athlete – Colleen Dougherty

I graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1999 with a B.S.E. in Therapeutic Recreation. Then I headed west for an intern position in Park City Utah at the National Ability Center teaching adaptive sports. Since then, I have worked with people with physical and developmental disabilities in a variety of outdoor recreation settings, including, but not limited to, white water rafting, snow skiing, snow boarding, water skiing, cycling, camping, hiking, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. I truly believe that recreation is the core of happiness and health. It is only natural for me to share my love of recreation with others who may not be able to participate without special assistance.
Former Board Member - Amber Atkins

First off, I would love to thank OAS for the great weekend up at Hoodoo. I have to say that as a novice skiier, they really made the outing so much fun. I would give two enthusiastic thumbs up to their program, volunteers, and the lodge for making such an unforgettable experience. I look forward to seeing many of them in the future, as I am now hooked.                                                         Adaptive Athlete and Wounded Warrior participant - Jeff DeLeon