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Challenge Alaska

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Challenge Alaska

Challenge Alaska improves the lives of people with disabilities, their families and the whole community through adaptive sports, therapeutic recreation, and education.

 

Participation in Challenge Alaska’s programs helps people break down the barriers that may exist for them in many aspects of life. We accomplish this by building confidence and security, creating an infrastructure for support, increasing mobility, and improving health. Challenge Alaska’s mission promotes education, social development and involvement, employment, and the ultimate goal of independence.

 

Challenge Alaska is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and the whole community through sports, recreation and education.

 

Challenge Alaska was founded in 1980 and incorporated in 1981 by Douglas Keil and other individuals dedicated to providing sports and recreation opportunities for the disabled. Mr. Keil was electrocuted at age 14 and as a result his left arm and leg were amputated. After struggling for years with depression Doug visited Winter Park, Colorado in 1975, which turned his life around. After winning two Gold Medals in Norway with the US Disabled Alpine Ski Team, Doug was determined to bring those same opportunities to the disabled community of Alaska and in 1980 Challenge Alaska was born.

 

Beginning in a broom closet at Alyeska Ski Resort with less than a dozen participants Challenge Alaska now serves over 1,000 people with disabilities each year with a wide variety of programs and services from Sled Hockey to Hospital Based Therapy as well as Book Clubs, Cooking Groups, Camping, Fishing, Soccer, and much more.

Activities

See All

Archery

Archery is a versatile activity. It is something that can be done for fun, for hunting, or for competition. “Target shooting wasn’t a thing for me,” said US Para Archery Head Coach Jonathan Clemins. “But I realized I enjoyed shooting my bow as much as I enjoyed hunting.” In addition, archery can be a year-round…

Alpine/Downhill Skiing

Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, is the pastime of sliding down snow-covered slopes on skis.  There are tons of disabled skiers flying down the slopes across the country. Experienced skiers make it look easy as they swoosh and cut their way through powdery (and sometimes not so powdery) snow. While it takes some practice to refine…

Basketball

In the beginning you had to have a spinal cord injury in order to play wheelchair basketball. But that, much like the game itself, has come a long way since 1946. Today, in order to be eligible to play wheelchair basketball within the NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association) a person must have a permanent lower…

Biathlon

Camping

Canoeing

There is a lot to the sport – more than numbers on the scoreboard, the human side to this is a very powerful experience and I think all the para-athletes can appreciate that they are working to help each other. It brings countries and people together in a marvelous way.Jan Whitaker, President of Paralympic Sport…

Cycling

Rain, sleet, snow, or hail … it seems that no matter the weather, you can always see a cyclist biking for pleasure, on an errand, or keeping fit. The love of bike riding is rapidly growing across nearly every demographic. Cycling has always been a great way to enjoy the outdoors, socialize with fellow bikers,…

Fishing

Flyfishing made a real big difference in my recovery and helped flip that switch from thinking about negative things to positive things. There is a lot of peace and a lot of connecting with nature involved with fishing. – David Folkerts, Chief Operations Officer of Project Healing Waters   Fishing 101 Photo Credits: Matt Romero,…

Hiking

Take a Hike! Outdoor Adventure Awaits Everyone is concerned with fitness these days. Many people are also concerned with watching their personal budget, too. So what activity offers fun and fitness as well as being easy on the wallet? The answer is hiking, and almost everybody can do it, whether it’s simply utilizing community park…

Kayaking

When you go skiing, you need to find a mountain and cold weather. You don’t need anything special to start kayaking. Kayaking is just down the road. -Joe Mornini, Executive Director of Team River Runner   Getting Started Looking to spend a quiet afternoon enjoying the outdoors and scenery?  Perhaps you’re more of a thrill…

Nordic Skiing

Rafting

About Adaptive Rafting Considered an extreme adventure sport, rafting, or white water rafting, is a popular recreational activity. With the help of a guide, you make your way down the river, maneuvering through rapids, and navigating around rocks. You can choose the experience you want, whether it be a relaxing ride down the river or…

Rock Climbing

One of the things I like about rock climbing is that it always gives you little triumphs. You can reach new levels, you are never out of challenges, and you can do it pretty much anywhere. – Jarem Frye, Climbing Enthusiast and K12 Prosthetics founder   Becoming Familiar with Adaptive Climbing For a full body…

Ropes Course

Sled Hockey

All About Sled Hockey Sled Hockey A Sport for All Abilities Sled hockey had its beginning in the early 1960s when some enterprising athletes at a physical rehabilitation center in Sweden wanted to play the game. The men modified a metal frame sled with two regular-sized ice hockey skate blades that allowed the puck to pass…

Snowboarding

All About Snowboarding History Thank you to Lindsay Schultz for contributing information to this article. Pipelines, shredding, jibbers, and boardercross are all part of the colorful trappings of what’s attracting winter sports lovers to the country’s newest and most popular pursuit of things-that-go-bump-in-the-snow. Otherwise known as snowboarding….. Originally embraced by preteen and adolescent males who…

Swimming

Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, swimming has been one of the Games’ main sports.   The thrill of competition aside, swimming offers many benefits including strengthening the cardiovascular systems and the major muscle groups of both the upper and lower body. It also develops flexibility in the muscles and joints as…

Tennis/Wheelchair Tennis

The people you meet through tennis are friendly, happy, optimistic and outgoing, They just want to have a good time and want others to have a good time. – Steve Kappes, Director of the San Diego Wounded Warrior Tennis Program and Director of Military Outreach for the San Diego District Tennis Association   All About…

Triathlon

Getting Started Get Out and TriThank you to Dare2tri for contributing information and photos for this article. Paratriathlon made its Paralympic competition debut in Rio 2016.  The sport, which combines swimming, running and biking into one race, has been rapidly growing in the U.S. and abroad among athletes at all age ranges and ability levels.  From…

Wakeboarding

Water Skiing

Water Skiing 101 Ride the Wake! There is nothing like spending a warm summer day by the water. But water-skiers will tell you that even better is a day spent water skiing along on the surface of the water with the wind in their hair. Don’t think because you have a disability that you can’t…

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CONTACTS

740 Bonanza Ave, Anchorage, AK 99518, USA

LOCATION

740 Bonanza Ave, Anchorage, AK 99518, USA

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