{"id":7606,"date":"2026-05-29T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7606"},"modified":"2026-05-29T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:30:00","slug":"air-force-veteran-adaptive-skier-conquers-the-slopes-without-poles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7606","title":{"rendered":"Air Force Veteran adaptive skier conquers the slopes\u2014without poles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2026-05-29T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disabled Veteran finds freedom through adaptive sports<\/h2>\n<p>For Air Force\u00a0Veteran Salvador Vasquez, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wintersportsclinic.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">National Veterans Winter Sports Clinic<\/a> is about more than just skiing;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0about reclaiming strength and confidence after devastating injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Now in his fourth year attending the clinic,\u00a0the Gulf War Veteran\u00a0continues to push his limits in new ways. This year, that challenge meant skiing without\u00a0ski\u00a0poles,\u00a0something he had depended on in previous years for balance and stability.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy instructors\u00a0said, \u2018We\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have any\u00a0[poles]\u00a0for you,\u2019 and I was like\u2026 What?!\u201d\u00a0said Vasquez, laughing. \u201cBut sometimes\u00a0you\u2019ve just got to push through it.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0how you get better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>What may have started as a surprise quickly became a breakthrough. Without poles to lean on, Vasquez was encouraged to rely more on his legs, core strength and body awareness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The decision\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0an accident.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adaptive skiing builds confidence\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/Sal-1_r1-scaled.webp\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Air Force Veteran Salvador Vasquez (center) poses for a photo with ski instructors Bruce Tubbs (left) and Molly Nickel (right) before a ski run at Snowmass Village, Colorado during the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, April 6, 2026. (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs photo by Abby Woodruff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Before hitting the slopes, his instructors, Bruce Tubbs and Molly Nickel, reviewed his history and noticed a pattern:\u00a0Vasquez\u00a0often ended his runs early due to fatigue and back pain. To address that, they made a deliberate call to remove the poles and push him to engage his lower body more effectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe needed him to connect\u00a0with\u00a0what his body\u00a0is\u00a0doing with what his legs are doing,\u201d Tubbs explained. \u201cBy taking away the poles, he couldn\u2019t rely on them for balance, so he had to use his legs more.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Run after\u00a0run,\u00a0Vasquez\u00a0began to find that connection, completing multiple\u00a0descents\u00a0without needing physical support.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s building confidence every time,\u201d Nickel added. \u201cIt\u2019s working.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That progress is especially significant given where his journey began. Vasquez\u00a0suffered catastrophic injuries that left him questioning what his future would look like. He broke both legs, his pelvis,\u00a0neck\u00a0and ribs, with some injuries so severe they displaced bones\u00a0through his skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never thought I\u2019d be skiing,\u201d\u00a0Vasquez\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Independence regained on the slopes<\/h2>\n<p>Through recreation therapy at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Vasquez was introduced to adaptive sports as part of his recovery. His first experience at the Winter Sports Clinic four years ago was anything but easy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat first year, it\u00a0was\u00a0tough,\u201d Vasquez said. \u201cThey started me out on a ski bike.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Over time, with consistent effort and guidance, he progressed back onto skis, first with support, then with poles, and now without.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For Vasquez, adaptability\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just about equipment,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0about mindset. Learning to trust his body again, to push through discomfort and to accept\u00a0challenges\u00a0has been central to his growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m glad\u00a0Bruce and Molly are\u00a0courageous enough with me to push me,\u201d\u00a0Vasquez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the physical gains, Vasquez says the clinic provides something just as important: connection.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you\u2019re disabled, it\u2019s\u00a0hard to leave your home sometimes,\u201d\u00a0Vasquez\u00a0said. \u201cYou get comfortable there. But when you come out here,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0one with everybody,\u00a0especially us Veterans.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That sense of camaraderie\u00a0mirrors the bonds he formed during his\u00a022 years\u00a0of\u00a0military\u00a0service.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t do this alone,\u201d\u00a0he added. \u201cThat\u2019s how we get through things:\u00a0together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Explore adaptive sports opportunities<\/h2>\n<p>Veterans interested in staying active and exploring adaptive sports can take part in a variety of VA-supported programs designed to promote recovery, resilience and independence. These national events provide opportunities to build confidence, connect with fellow Veterans, and experience activities like skiing, cycling, wheelchair sports and more, regardless of skill level or prior experience.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/147084\/air-force-adaptive-skier-conquers-slopes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Air Force Veteran and adaptive skier Salvador Vasquez rediscovered his independence at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Air Force Veteran adaptive skier conquers the slopes\u2014without poles - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Air Force Veteran and adaptive skier Salvador Vasquez rediscovered his independence at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7606\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Air Force Veteran adaptive skier conquers the slopes\u2014without poles - 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