Photography by Chris Bartkowski/Generikal
When Tim Burr broke his neck backcountry skiing at age 19, he received valuable advice from High Fives Founder and CEO Roy Tuscany: “It will never be the same, but it can still be awesome.” Burr went on to found Colorado-based Return to Dirt, a non-profit organization providing complimentary adaptive equipment and instruction for athletes with disabilities to pilot off-road vehicles into backcountry areas they would otherwise be unable to access.
Return to Dirt recently joined up with the High Fives Foundation, a leader in education and recovery of life-altering injuries in outdoor action sports. Much of the $6 million they’ve donated since 2009 has been in the form of Empowerment Grants for injured athletes and first-time adaptive experiences in sports such as surfing, skiing, biking, fishing, and motorsports.
Burr says that the goal of Return to Dirt is to bring as many individuals into the backcountry as possible and that the integration with High Fives will help achieve that goal faster and more efficiently.
Return to Dirt also hosts trips, the most recent taking place in Truckee, Nevada, offering athletes the opportunity to drive hand control-adapted Can-Am UTVs to explore the local terrain. Team USA Paralympic skier Ricci Kilgore attended the event. “I definitely achieved my goal that day,” she said. “My face hurts from smiling so much! It was so nice to be away from my wheelchair and cruising in the mountains, and being so present. I especially enjoyed getting to know all the athletes and volunteers.”
Those who would like to learn more about, or apply for, the Return to Dirt Program can do so via the High Five Foundation website at highfivesfoundation.org/programs/return-to-dirt. The program is open to anyone with a physical mobility impairment.
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