Our History
OVER 55 YEARS AGO, IT ALL STARTED WITH TEACHING 23 AMPUTEES TO CONQUER THE SLOPES.
Hal O’Leary, Founder
The National Sports Center for the Disabled’s story began in 1970 when Winter Park Ski School was looking for ski instructors to teach 23 amputees from Children’s Hospital Colorado how to ski.
Hal O’Leary, a Winter Park ski instructor, was the first and only person to raise his hand. With only six days to prepare, he got to work teaching himself how to ski on a single ski with one leg suspended and borrowed outriggers for support.
Nothing could have prepared Hal for that first morning on the slopes. The wind was biting, the snow was deep, and frustration set in quickly as the children struggled and fell—again and again. But Hal didn’t give up, and neither did they. With patience, persistence, and a lot of heart, he soon had them skiing in straight lines down the hill, proving to each child that they were capable of more than they ever imagined.
By the end of the day everyone was laughing, empowered, and filled with joy.
From the joy and inspiration of these 23 amputees and Hal’s fierce determination to help them love playing in the great outdoors, we have worked tirelessly to expand on Hal’s vision of seeing the “able” in everyone and believing that anything is possible. Through the last 55 years, Hal revolutionized the adaptive ski industry and has broken down the barriers between sports and those living with disabilities.
Today, the National Sports Center for the Disabled offers year-round adaptive outdoor experiences, including skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, rafting, archery, sailing, and more. And our Elite Athletes come from around the world to train here and ski competitively at the highest levels of their sport.
