The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Courtesy of the Adaptive Sports Center
When Hailey Griffin first connected with the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) during the 2020–2021 winter season, she was just over a year removed from a life-altering car accident that resulted in an L1 spinal cord injury. After spending much of that year isolated in her home in Red Feather Lakes, she made the courageous decision to start fresh by selling her house and moving to Crested Butte in search of something more.
What she found was a community, and a spark.
Introduced to the ASC through a coach who believed in her dreams of becoming a Paralympian, Hailey showed up for her first lesson full of excitement and possibility.
“I remember feeling so proud when I was able to ski without tethers after just a few runs,” she recalls. “By the end of the season, I had skied my first black run and was riding the chair by myself.”
But what stood out most wasn’t just the progress. It was the people.
“Everyone at the ASC was so encouraging,” she says. “They made me feel like my goal of becoming a Paralympian was definitely possible. They stoked my fire.”
That fire had actually been lit even earlier while she was still recovering at Craig Hospital. During her recovery, Hailey completed the “Big Dog Challenge,” a demanding physical test. A friend watching her that day said, “We’re going to see Hailey at the Paralympics one day.” From that moment on, the idea took hold.
After exploring different adaptive sports, Hailey found her passion in mono-skiing. “There’s something so freeing about getting out on the mountain and sliding on snow just as fast, if not faster, than able-bodied skiers,” she says.
With the foundation she built at the ASC, Hailey continued progressing through other adaptive programs, eventually joining a high-performance para-alpine race team in Park City, where she has trained for the past four seasons. Each step of the way, her confidence, independence and sense of identity grew stronger.
“My time with the ASC changed my life,” she says. “I went from feeling like a sad, scared ‘wheelchair girl’ to realizing that I’m a badass. Learning to mono-ski reminded me of my capabilities and helped me rebuild my self-image.”
This past February, that journey culminated in an incredible milestone, competing on the Paralympic stage. While the road to elite competition has been filled with both triumphs and challenges, Hailey is quick to point out that the biggest growth has come from within. “You’re not always going to win. In fact, you’ll fail a lot. But those are the moments that show you who you are and what you’re capable of. It’s about who you become in the tough times.”
Looking ahead, she has her sights set on returning to the Games in 2030 as a serious contender. She also dreams of exploring big mountain skiing, coaching future adaptive athletes and even creating an accessible adventure bus to take others on outdoor trips. And through it all, she hasn’t forgotten where it started.
“Without the ASC, none of this would have been possible,” she says. “Your support creates access, builds community and truly changes lives. It changed mine.”
Hailey’s story is a powerful reminder of how important it is to create access and opportunity for everyone, no matter their ability.
