Top Three High-Octane Adaptive Activities in Colorado

Planning a mile-high vacation? Here are three ways to have extreme fun in Colorado for the adventure-loving adaptive sportsperson.

By Andrea J. Kennedy

Downhill mountain bikers can test their skills on stairs at the top of the trail leading to the road down the mountain.

Colorado is one of the most adventurous destinations in the world. Lovers of the outdoors are attracted to the state’s endless mountain landscapes, bountiful rivers and lakes, and four seasons of fresh air, blue skies, and perfect weather. But perhaps contrary to popular belief, Colorado is also one of the most accessible states in the US. Small ski and tourist towns have been expanding their access and welcoming travelers with disabilities since the 1970s. So while you’re here, experience Colorado at its finest, and explore an activity you never thought possible!

Activity 1: Downhill Mountain Biking, Crested Butte

The Adaptive Sports Center (ASC; www.adaptivesports.org) in the tiny town of Crested Butte offers year-round adventure for visitors with disabilities. The one unique activity it offers is the state can is the adrenaline rush of downhill mountain biking.

ASC has three four-wheel downhill mountain bikes. These devices have no gears and no pedals, just four disc brakes, a lap-belt, and a full suspension system for rolling over just about anything. Each rider is accompanied by two adaptive program instructors who assist you with your bike up the ski lift. And that’s where the fun begins! About a 30-45 minute ride winding through aspen groves down the Crested Butte Ski Area, the dirt trail alternates between single track and a wider truck-road. Once down to the base, most riders will say, “Again!” The afternoon lasts as long as the lifts run.

One high-octane highlight is when your bike arrives at the top of the lift. Adaptive participants have the option of riding the bike down 7-8 stairs to get to the trail. Although this part of the ride is somewhat daunting, the stable four wheels of the bike are nearly impossible to tip over to either side. Once comfortable with the bike, you’ll find yourself rolling over rocks, roots, and even those stairs.

The only requirements for downhill mountain biking are hand and finger dexterity in order to work the brakes and steer the handlebars. Prior biking experience is not needed; neither is leg movement or mobility.

Activity 2: Rafting a Class 5 River, Durango

Durango is famous for its Class 5 Animas River, which has been tempting white-water kayakers and rafters for decades. The southwest portion of Colorado is well-known for mountains taller than 14,000 feet, and the Durango area boasts the highest concentration of these forbidding crests. The most challenging time of year to visit is spring, when water levels are highest and the water whitest.

Durango’s local adaptive sports program, Adaptive Sports Association (ASA, www.asadurango.org; 970- 259-0374), offers mostly day trips for rafters with disabilities at the usually low adaptive program prices. But for the more advanced, local rafting gurus Mild to Wild (800-567- 6745; www.mild2wildrafting.com) offer 27 trip options lasting from two hours to four days, rafting as well as jeep tours, for individuals and groups of all ages and abilities.

Rafting is actually one of the easiest outdoors activities to adapt. The put-ins and take- outs, or loading and unloading areas adjacent to the river, are usually ramped dirt or concrete boat launches built to make the river accessible to vehicles. This makes for an easy entrance to the boats for wheelchair users, and the rafts are soft and buoyant, so extra padding for your rear is unnecessary.

Adventurers of all levels of ability can participate. Hand and arm mobility is required to paddle, but not all occupants need to paddle. No one is strapped into the boat in the event it capsizes, but thanks to life jackets, swimming ability is also not required. To avoid capsizing, if the concept of spending a little time in the water doesn’t appeal to you, pick the calmer time of year (late July to mid September) to try this activity, when the rivers are lower and the rapids are minimal.

If you’re willing to throw caution to the wind and adventure with the best of them however, Durango will call to you much earlier than August. With the spray of white water on your face and a bouncing boat beneath you, you’re bound to take part in the laughter and yelping that is often heard along this world-class river.

Activity 3: Wakeboarding Bald Eagle Lake, Steamboat Springs

One of the pioneering agencies on adaptive wakeboarding is Adaptive Adventures, (AA; www.adaptiveadventures.org). Based out of Evergreen near Denver, AA not only runs summer-long camps and events on the lakes in and around Denver, they also take their wakeboards and waterskis around the state.

Of the many activities that AA offers, wakeboarding is one of the most adventurous. An offshoot from waterskiing, wakeboarding is more about “catching big air” than tooling around the lake behind a boat.

Steamboat Springs is home to a private, man-made waterski lake built by long-time Steamboat local and excavator Ed MacArthur. Bald Eagle Lake, named for the part-time resident birds that can be seen overhead, has only recently become home to Behind the ‘Boat, an annual adaptive waterskiing camp that takes place here in July.

Although the wakeboard itself is not adapted, a metal frame with a canvas sling is mounted to it, and the rider sits forward-facing in this sling, with knees to chest, while holding onto the tow rope bar. Being lower to the board actually increases your aerodynamics, launching you as far off the wake as you’re comfortable with. Although bouncier than skiing because of the lower center of gravity, making landings a little more difficult, this sport is fairly easy to pick up after just one weekend of training.

As with downhill mountain biking, hand dexterity is required to hold onto the rope and maneuver the board, and having some stomach muscles is helpful as well, but not required. Without these abilities, participants could waterski instead, as waterskiing is another sport that is open to all ability levels. Thanks to waterskis that have been adapted with outriggers, hand and arm mobility is not required for that sport.

There are many other activities in Colorado to take advantage of, but these three get the high votes for adrenaline. Do not limit yourself to any amount of activities, however. Get out to Colorado, leave your wheelchair behind and have an adventure that tests your strengths and abilities instead of limiting them!

Andrea J. Kennedy is co- author, with her husband Craig Kennedy, of Access Anything: Colorado, Adventuring with Disabilities, and Access Anything: I Can Do That! They also run adaptive ski camps in their home of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and travel extensively.