The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), in partnership with U.S. Paralympics, United States Handcycling and Disabled Sports USA is hosting a Developmental Cycling Camp for Riders with Disabilities at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, September, 18-25, 2011.
Twenty camp participants including blind and visually impaired cyclists and their sighted pilots who ride tandem bikes; cyclists with lower mobility impairments who use hand cycles; cyclists with cerebral palsy or head injury who use both standard bikes and amputee cyclists who ride either single bikes or hand cycles will learn advanced bike handling skills and road racing strategies and receive instruction in track riding.
Among the participants will be military veterans and active duty service members who sustained physical and sensory disabilities as a result of service in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. Camp staff will include certified cycling coaches, a certified mechanic and guest speakers from a variety of sports related fields.
The list of participating athletes includes:
Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt (stoker), Philadelphia, PA
John Schmidt (pilot), Philadelphia, PA
Stan Moore (stoker), Medford, OR
Dan Nelson (pilot), Winnetka CA
Larry Gunter (stoker), Phoenix City, AL (Military)
Greg Hoffman (pilot), Doylestown, PA
Ivan Valentin, San Antonio, TX (Military)
Andre Cilliers, Fort Belvoir, VA: (Military)
Lee Nortn, Naples, FL (Military)
Gabriel Monreal, San Antonio, TX (Military)
Loyal Pyczynski, Orlando, FL
Nieves Rodriguez, Temple, Texas
Matthew Robinson, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Military)
Alicia Dana, Putney, VT
Will Groulx, Portland, OR (Military)
Thea Rosa, Cool, CA
Tom Davis, Fremenot, IN (Military)
Tim Connor, Hilliard, Fl (Military)
Todd Nipp, Colorado Springs, CO
Sean Haggard, Denver, CO (Military)
“Our goal is for cyclists to gain the riding knowledge and experience in order for each athlete to return to their respective local communities motivated to set a goal of training to compete for the United States in future regional and national events, including for some cycling at the Paralympic Games”, said Cycling Coordinator Pam Fernandes who also is a Paralympic Gold medalist and World record holder in tandem cycling.
The United States Association of Blind Athletes enhances the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity. http:www.usaba.org
United States Handcycling Federation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation designed to create integrated cycling opportunities for wheelchair users and athletes with lower-mobility impairments: Link will open in a new windowhttp://www.ushf.org
Disabled Sports USA provides the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to gain confidence and dignity through participation in sports, recreation and related educational programs: Link will open in a new windowhttp://www.dsusa.org
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the Paralympic sports movement and promoting excellence in the lives of people with physical disabilities. Link will open in a new windowhttp://usparalympics.org/
“This project is supported by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee.”