Ignite Adaptive Sports

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Nederland, CO
Ignite Adaptive Sports

Igniting personal growth, independence and confidence through adaptive snowsport opportunities.

Our mission is to ignite personal growth, independence, and confidence in people with disabilities on the Front Range, and in surrounding mountain and Northern Colorado communities, by providing caring, safe, and fun adaptive winter snowsports opportunities. Ignite instructors are specially certified to teach downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing and it's their number

one priority to maintain safety while also having fun on the mountain. People of all ages and abilities are welcome to enjoy the many winter sports activities offered by Ignite. We turn no one away due to their disability or ability to pay for our services. Our season runs from January through March, on Thursdays to Sundays. For more information, please call 303.258.1166 or visit www.igniteadaptivesports.org.

06/01/2026

⛳ Save the date! Our inaugural Golf Tournament, “Ignite the Greens,” will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026, 8:00 a.m., at the Lake Valley Golf Club in Niwot.

Missing the mountain? Looking for something fun to do in the off-season? Join us for a fun fundraiser supporting adaptive snowsports and the athletes who make our community so special.

Every swing helps create more opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to experience the joy, confidence, and freedom of being on the snow.

Here’s what you can expect:
⛳ 18 holes of golf + cart
⛳ 4-person scramble
⛳ Shotgun start
⛳ Breakfast and lunch provided
⛳ Longest drive and closest-to-the-pin competitions!

The course is accessible to golfers with disabilities. This event is open to all, so gather your friends, coworkers, or fellow golfers and plan to spend a great day supporting a great cause.

Register now: https://www.golfgenius.com/register?league_id=12364607205314422797

05/28/2026

Meet Kevin Wilson (if you know Ignite, you likely already know him)!

Kevin is Ignite’s Program Director, but his journey with Ignite began as an athlete. Twenty-six years after a paralyzing auto accident, Kevin discovered Ignite and returned to skiing.

“After that first day, I was sore, but I was hooked,” he shared. “The minute I felt that edge cutting into the snow and the thrill of skiing, the feeling of freedom came right back.”

For Kevin, rediscovering skiing was more than a day on the mountain. It was reclaiming something he had once lost.

“I know what it’s like to not do something you love for so long, and what it’s like to regain something you’ve lost. I love to share that with others.”

Today, Kevin helps ensure Ignite runs smoothly behind the scenes so more athletes can experience that same freedom. As he says, “Ignite has a welcoming feeling, like we’re all there together.”

We are grateful for the leadership, perspective, and passion he brings to Ignite every day. Thank you, Kevin, for all you do! 🙌

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor those who have served, including those who gave their lives in service to our country.

At Ignite, we are especially mindful that many of our athletes are Veterans. Through the Warfighter Sports Program of Move United, we are proud to offer U.S. Veterans with disabilities free snowsport experiences and a community built on trust and possibility.

Since launching our Disabled Veterans Program in 2008, hundreds of disabled U.S. Veterans have experienced the mountain with Ignite. We have witnessed firsthand the strength, resilience, and camaraderie they bring to our slopes.

Today, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and we remain committed to and grateful for all the Veterans who join us at Ignite and to those who are volunteer instructors as well.

Thank you to all the Veterans who are such an important part of our Ignite Family. 💙

[Image description: An adaptive skier in a sit-ski is guided downhill by an instructor holding tether lines, both wearing helmets and numbered bibs on a snowy run]

05/19/2026

Save the date. ✨ Ignite’s annual Gala will take place on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Boulder JCC.

We are already building the team that will make it unforgettable. We are currently looking for volunteers with event experience to join our Gala Committee. If you have a background in event planning, fundraising, sponsorships, logistics, or hospitality, we would love to connect.

This is a chance to play a meaningful role in one of Ignite’s most impactful fundraising events of the year while helping create an evening that celebrates our athletes and community.

👉 Interested in getting involved? Send us a DM to learn more.

[Image descriptions]
Slide 1: Four attendees wearing colorful hats and costumes pose together at a themed event photo booth.
Slide 2: Four attendees smiling together while holding drinks at an Ignite event.
Slide 3: A group of six attendees posing together in front of an Ignite event backdrop.
Slide 4: A smiling woman seated in a wheelchair posing with a black service dog.
Slide 5: A wide view of an Ignite gala showing guests seated at round tables under a curved wooden ceiling with modern lighting, watching a presentation on a large screen.
Slide 6: A speaker stands at the front of a banquet hall addressing a seated audience, with a large screen behind him displaying a photo of smiling guests holding plates and drinks.

05/14/2026

Meet Shelby Burnette. 👋 Shelby has been an Ignite volunteer for the past two years. What began as a way to get involved in a new community quickly became something much deeper.

“Watching athletes’ faces light up as they accomplished something new was truly inspiring and addictive in the best way,” Shelby shared. “I stopped focusing on what I could gain and started thinking about what more I could give.”

“Saying that Ignite has changed my life would be an understatement,” Shelby wrote. “It’s hard to imagine my life without Ignite, and I can confidently say this will be a lifelong commitment for me.”

We are grateful for volunteers like Shelby who show up with heart and dedication season after season. 💙

Interested in volunteering with Ignite? Get started here: https://igniteadaptivesports.org/volunteers/

[Image descriptions]
Slide 1: An adaptive skier and volunteer instructor, Shelby, pose at the base of the mountain.
Slide 2: Shelby and another Ignite instructor assist a skier.
Slide 3: Shelby and skiers pose for a selfie.
Slide 4: A photo of Ignite volunteer Shelby Burnette.

05/11/2026

As we reflect on our 51st season, we are filled with gratitude for YOU, the community who made it possible.

More than 300 volunteers instructed over 1,000 lessons to 350 athletes this season. Behind each number is a story of courage, growth, and connection on the mountain.

Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time, every donor who invested in our mission, and every athlete and family who trusted Ignite to be part of their journey. Your support created meaningful moments that will last far beyond the snow. ❄️

We are proud of what this season represents and excited for what comes next!

[Video description: An Ignite athlete and two instructors sitting together on a chairlift waving and smiling at the camera as they go up the mountain]

05/07/2026

May is . 💙 At Ignite, we see every day how movement supports mental health.

Time on the mountain builds more than skill. It builds confidence. Resilience. Independence. Community.

For many athletes, snowsports provide space to reset, reconnect, and rediscover what is possible. Fresh air. Focused effort. The rhythm of turns. The encouragement of teammates and instructors.

Physical activity has long been linked to improved mood, reduced stress, and greater overall well-being. But beyond the science, we see something even more powerful: joy.

The joy of trying something new.
The joy of progress.
The joy of belonging.

This month and every month, we are proud to create opportunities for movement that strengthen both body and mind.

[Video description: An Ignite athlete on a ski bike and instructors going down the ski slope]

05/02/2026

Ignite volunteers and athletes: Looking for a way to stay connected now that ski season has come to an end?

Achilles Boulder welcomes walkers and runners at all paces to help people with disabilities get out and enjoy the trails.

Current workouts are:
1️⃣ Every Thursday, rain or shine from 5:30–6:45 pm at Foothills Community Park (7th Street and Silver Lake Avenue). Look for the picnic pavilions by the playground.

2️⃣ Every Sunday, rain or shine from 10–11:15 am on the Bobolink Trail. Meet at the entrance to East Boulder Recreation Center.

It’s a very social group that often enjoys refreshments post-workout! If you’re interested in volunteering as a guide or becoming an athlete, reach out to Ignite volunteer Annette Kissinger and let her know your preferred pace. She’ll help you register. Get started: https://www.achillesinternational.org/boulder

[Image description: A large group of Achilles Boulder volunteers and participants gather outdoors under a leafy tree, smiling at the camera in athletic clothing and bright hats on a sunny day]

04/28/2026

If you skied or snowboarded with Ignite for the first time this season, you might have been surprised to learn something about your instructors. 💙

They are volunteers!

Every single one of our instructors is a volunteer who has gone through extensive training in adaptive equipment, skills-based techniques, and how to support athletes with specific disabilities. They show up week after week because they believe in what happens on the mountain.

Our work at Ignite is truly powered by volunteers. They're the reason over 350 athletes get to experience independence, confidence, and community on the slopes every season.

Did a volunteer make your day special this year? Share a moment in the comments. We'd love to celebrate them.

[Video description: Ignite instructors train an athlete on safely uprighting their adaptive snowsport equipment.]

04/23/2026

We maintain a world-class, on-site ski and snowboard shop with a full fleet of specialized adaptive equipment. ⚙️

Our fleet covers every discipline we teach: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ski biking, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. We also stock jackets, helmets, boots, gloves, socks, and sunscreen for lessons.

All our equipment technicians are manufacturer-certified. Our volunteers receive training in adaptive equipment, skills-based techniques, and how to effectively support athletes with specific disabilities.

The use of any and all equipment is included in your lesson fee. With our adaptive equipment and trained team, no one is ever turned away because of their disability.

[Image description]
Slide 1: An equipment room filled with adaptive sit-skis and gear organized on shelves and racks inside Ignite’s facility.
Slide 2: Ignite’s storage room with neatly arranged helmets, ski equipment, and adaptive gear organized on racks and shelves.

Address

2861 Eldora Ski Road
Nederland, CO
80466

Website

http://www.igniteadaptivesports.org/

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