I am totally stoked! This week, I was able to order a new Hand Cycle the ATH from LasherSport here in Anchorage. This was made possible in part with the proceeds from selling my bikes and donations from friends, but this purchase was mostly the result of a grant from the High Fives Foundation a Tahoe-based non-profit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for athletes who have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action sports community. I have been selected as one of their Winter Empowerment Athletes. I am stoked to say that I will be getting in shape for the upcoming winter by cycling my way around the roads and trails and pushing myself to show how much fun you can have while getting after it, no matter your situation. High Fives will be there to help me and others keep the stoke going, no matter what happened to us.

Now you may say that “Ira is just one of those spandex clad Nordic weenies.” That has definitely been true for portions of each winter, but I have dedicated much more of my time to planning trips and adventuring in the mountains. With the exception of this last year, I have managed to get in 50+ days a year of Heli assisted and human powered Backcountry Big Mountain Telemark skiing and a little smattering of days at the resorts when avalanche conditions dictated. And besides, if you say Nordic racing is not an action sport, you have not seen the bumps and grinds that happen in a sprint race! It is almost a no-holds barred event! My work with Rossignol has let me help promote the stoke of skiing, whether it be on the trails or off the cliffs, for many years and I am happy to be a part of an organization that will help me keep that stoke going in the future by helping me get ready for winter. High Fives all around!