All Photographs: Courtesy of Excessive Fives Basis
When Roy Tuscany fractured his T-12 vertebra and backbone from a ski accident in 2006, the aspiring pro-skier was overwhelmed by the generosity of his neighborhood to assist each bodily and emotionally, but additionally financially. The assist he obtained in all aspects allowed Tuscany to focus solely on his restoration, which in flip impressed him to begin the Excessive Fives Basis simply three years later in 2009.
A non-profit group devoted to getting athletes from all walks of life again out doing their respective sports activities and actions, whether or not they be bodily disabilities from a life-altering accident or cognitive disabilities from traumatic mind accidents (TBIs), Excessive Fives has served a complete of 866 athletes and 219 veterans since its inception. This yr, Excessive Fives celebrates its fifteenth anniversary and the group reveals completely no indicators of slowing down. Quite the opposite, Excessive Fives is definitely increasing its Navy to the Mountain (M2M) program to assist much more veterans with life-changing accidents get again to the sports activities they love.
What began as a single, 10-week program in collaboration with buddy, mentor, retired NFL linebacker and founding father of Adaptive Coaching Basis, David Vobora, has expanded within the 10 years since its inception to incorporate ski weeks at Palisades Tahoe, Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah and new for 2026, Sugarbush Resort in Vermont—Tuscany’s authentic dwelling mountain.
“My good buddy Amber Broadway, who I labored with when she was at Sugarbush, obtained named President/GM [at Solitude] and he or she had at all times been in search of methods to broaden on how Excessive Fives can work extra immediately together with her,” Tuscany explains to me over the telephone. “I’ve been lucky to construct lots of nice relationships over my time working for Excessive Fives and previous to my damage. Amber has been a detailed confidant, she gave me the chance and this would be the second yr we’re going to Solitude.”
Over the course of 10 weeks, members undergo 9 weeks of programmatic bodily, psychological, emotional and social coaching at both Vobora’s Adaptive Coaching Basis in Dallas, Texas, or the Metropolis of Reno Adaptive Program in Reno, Nevada, main as much as one week of snowboarding and using on snow. Within the final 10 years of this system, Excessive Fives and M2M have been in a position to convey practically 200 veterans again to snow at completely no value to them. With the addition of Solitude and Sugarbush, that quantity will proceed to rise.
For 2025, the Navy to the Mountain program will meet on snow at Palisades March 16-21 and at Solitude April 7-12. Looking forward to 2026, Sugarbush will be a part of the celebration in late February. To assist assist this program and others prefer it, think about donating to the Excessive Fives Basis.
Click on Right here to be taught extra about Excessive Fives and the Navy to the Mountain program.
