Adaptive skiing keeps sport open to all
Tyler Davis was eight years old when he fell in love with skiing when his grandmother Judie Benedetti, whom he calls Nannie, started him on the sport she loves at Sunday River, Maine. Through up until his 17th year, he headed up there regularly to rip down trails and savor the ski life. Davis was 17 years old when he was stricken with Transverse myelitis, a life-threatening autoimmune disease that inflames the spine and in his case, robbed him with the ability to walk.
“The doctors told me I’d never walk again,” he said. Now, at 22, he’s still working on the walking (one leg still brings a struggle to that), but there’s something else he is back to: Skiing.
Davis, who long admired his Nannie’s dedication to and support of Maine Adaptive (https:// maineadaptive.org), a nonprofit organization that’s been getting individuals with disabilities out on the slopes and in other recreational settings since 1982, is now a student of the program she has long supported.
The irony is not lost on them, and it’s an irony they’re happy to point out. Because, thanks to her years of service to the program and despite the grim circumstances of Tyler’s diagnosis, Judie Davis knew this was exactly what he needed to embrace the new normal of his life.
“It has been a long journey but today he’s not only alive but getting back to living, and the Maine Adaptive Ski Program has played a big role in that,” she said. “As a result of participating in the program he has his skis back under him, a huge smile on his face and a newfound desire to push himself to try new things.”
Davis was 17 and loving life when one day, at a friend’s house, he noticed he could not put pressure on his left leg. By the time he got home, both legs were impacted and other symptoms like stomach pain were presenting. His mom rushed him to the hospital and since then, he’s been working to get back to life, including a long stint at Spaulding Rehab and constant rehab work to regain movement and adapt to life in a new way.
Right away, he dug deep and worked hard, rising at 6 a.m. daily to take on grueling physical therapy sessions. Meeting benchmarks gave him hope.
But the skiing, he said, gave him back joy in life, as his Nannie knew it would.
Her past involvement, she said, was a gift in that she knew what it was all about and knew he had the spirit within to take it on.
“I said to him, ‘I believe in you and I think you can do this. And I know (Maine Adaptive at Sunday River) is the place to go,’” she said. “I wasn’t scared for him to try it because I knew how great it is.”
Davis skis on an “outrigger,” a standing ski set up that gives support while you’re standing or moving on your skis. He’s a regular now at Sunday River as well as at Wachusett Mountain Resort, which is close to his Worcester home.
While he’s still working on
building his life post diagnosis, Davis said skiing gives him the confidence to take on more. He’s now doing adaptive waterskiing and – extra exciting for him – he recently got his driver’s license. He’s still figuring out work options but has every confidence he will live a full and adventurous life despite the diagnosis.
Nannie has seen the spirit awaken in him.
“It’s about overseeing obstacles. This is an obstacle he can get past, and he is, very much thanks to Maine Adaptive,” she said.
The Benedetti/Davis family are just one of many Massachusetts families that have long supported Maine Adaptivve.
Kelley Mawdsley has long had a career helping the adaptive population: she spent many years doing just that at the Wrentham State School. An avid skier, in 2009 she purchased a condo at Sunday River that just happened to be right across the way from the Maine Adaptive headquarters. It was serendipity, she says now.
“I know the moment I saw what they were doing that I had to be a part of it,” she said.
She’s now served as a board member, fundraiser and – most meaningful to her – on snow coach for the disabled. She specializes in helping the blind ski, and says she takes as much – or more—than she gives.
“I describe it as a very selfish act,” she said. “It’s an indescribable life-affirming experience not just for the skier, but for the coach. The confidence you see when they realize they can do something they never thought they could before? And then seeing that confidence shift into all parts of their lives? I mean: that’s an honor for me.”
Maine Adaptive has more than 400 volunteers and gives – free of cost to the participants – more than 3,500 outdoor sports lessons year round. Besides skiing, the teach cycling, kayaking, and more. “We even do pickleball, for goodness sake,” Mawdsley said.
On March 24, they’ll hold their annual fundraiser. They’ve brought in more than $6 million over the years, but more is needed.
“We need volunteers, donations and more. And we’re always open to new students,” Mawdsley said. “Since the pandemic, we’ve been a bit behind on volunteers. So if it speaks to you: We need you.”
Davis would agree. After all, he has goals to reach.
“I want to be able to ski on my own,” he said. “And when I can? I’m going to teach adaptive skiing. For sure.”