Snowmass Freeride

In 1995, Sam was involved in a freak mountain bike crash resulting in paraplegia from a burst fracture of the 12th thoracic and 1st lumbar.

That following winter "Good Morning, America" featured Sam in an introductory disabled ski lesson which re-established his confidence and self-esteem to believe in and pursue his dreams as a competitive monoskier.

Since that time he has been an active volunteer for Challenge Aspen and an advocate for monoskiers around the globe participating in Ride the Rockies a 565 mile bike tour across Colorado, Disabled Division Champion of the Aspen Highlands Town Race Series, 24 Hours of Aspen fore-runner and most recently taking the Silver Medal in Mono Skier Cross at X-Games 13.

He’s been highlighted in Warren Miller Film’s, "Journey," in 2003 for his first disabled descent of Aspen Highlands Bowl and "Playground" in 2007.

Sam has accepted a spot with the Challenge Aspen Competitive Program as a monoski competitor for the USSA North American Adaptive circuit and hopes to qualify for the Federation of International Skiing Adaptive World Cup circuit in Super G and Downhill next year. The program is directed by Kevin Jardine with assistance from Head Coach, John McBride and Assistant Coach, Johnathan Micah.

Skiing is neat. It makes me Happy

I started skiing at the age of 14 on the trash heaps in michigan, where i grew up. Now, i'm 32 years old and have been in aspen, colorado for 6 years.This '08-'09 season i have been moving forward with my skiing level and involvment in the sport/industry. I am anticipating hitting the comps next year with my aspen crew which has now been dubbed the "Aspen Ripper Factory" for our burly skiing and ability to "send" the venues in style."Any day in the mountains is a good day , especially if you're in the " white room", where nothing else matters and time stands still"!

Check out my main website which has my full resume and all photos on it.

Why Freeride? Why Hike for my turns? Is it only that the goods are up there and I am down here?  Or is it the ultimate progression level, a fusion of steeps and tricks over exposed terrain with the parks and pipes far below on the mountain.

Freeride is many things to many people. My buddies that teach think of freeriding as a day off from teaching to go rip around. Others that spend a lot of time in the park and pipe set aside days to go freeride. To me freeride is everyday that the gates are open. Hiking to terrain that is either too steep or too long of a walk is a way of life.

For 2009 my Freeride begins here on Snowmass as they get the steeper terrain open and and I can work on the technical lines and drops that will help me prepare for the 1^st stop of the Freeride World Tour in Sochi, Russia Jan 20-26 where I will face 19 of the World’s best freeride snowboarders. Then  it’s back in the Rockies for the 1^st 2 stops of the North Face Masters at Snowbird, Utah and Crested Butte Colorado. Some ripping on the slopes of Aspen/Snowmass and then out to Squaw Valley USA for the 2^nd stop of the Freeride World Tour on the legendary Tram Face. Tignes, France Hosts the 3^rd stop of the Tour March 8-15 and then  to Freeride sickness at Verbier Switzerland for the World Championships. Finish it off back on The Mass and add in some backcountry touring til I trade out the snowboard for a surfboard.

Check out my full bio @ www.loopd.com/members/Sudsy/Default.aspx

And catch the action www.freerideworldtour.com