High Fives Winter Empowerment Athlete: Landon McGauley

The High Fives Non-Profit Foundation (Truckee, CA), recently completed the first chapter in what is known as ‘The Landon McGauley Project.’ A 15 year old skier and downhill mountain biker from Quesnel, British Columbia, Landon was involved in a mountain biking accident which left the young athlete paralyzed from the waist down due to a T-5 spinal injury . Landon: “My goal was to be able to get back on the mountain in a sit ski this winter. Now, the ultimate goal is to pursue my dream of competing in the Olympics in 2014.” From January 5-10, 2011 the High Fives Non-Profit Foundation provided an amazing trip for Landon and his family parents to Olympic Valley, CA and Alpine Meadows Ski Resort. The High Fives Winter Empowerment Fund funded the trip by securing transportation by Truckee Tahoe Transportation Inc., lodging at the Resort at Squaw Creek, adaptive lessons with Disabled Sports USA FarWest (Alpine Meadows) with Bill Bowness (a two-time paralympic medalist, respectively), Smith Optics goggles and helmet, a pair of Volkl Bridge skis, Superlite Outriggers (adaptive ski poles) and a brand new sit-ski from Freedom Factory. This great story has just begun, with the support of his loving family, friends, his home mountain of Troll Ski Resort (Quesnel, BC) and the High Fives Non-Profit Foundation the next chapter is ready to be written.

High Fives Winter Empowerment Fund Grant Recipient Landon McGauley:
“This week was the best week of my life, thanks to you guys at High Fives!”
highfivesfoundation.org

Credit: Greg Martin and Nik David

Skier: Landon McGauley

Location: Alpine Meadows, CA

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