Adaptive wrestling champion switching to snowsports

Born with one leg, 23-year-old Anthony Robles, 23, went on to win the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship (against all able-bodied competitors) in the 125-pound weight class. He is a two time ESPY award winner, an inductee to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the exclusive motivational speaker for the Washington Speakers Bureau.

This weekend will mark the first time he has been on snow.

MakeAHero.org and Northstar are partnering to have Robles, who will be with his family, have the opportunity to learn to ski from local adaptive sports instructor Bill Bowness.

“Anthony has never let anything slow him down, so when he expressed interest in learning to ski, we wanted to help him achieve his next goal,” Kurt Miller of MakeAHero.org said in a statement.

Bowness, also an adaptive skier, was awarded the first adaptive slot on the PSIA Alpine Team in 2004, promptly earning the respect of fellow team members for his ability to instruct able-bodied alpine skiers of all levels just as well as adaptive skiers.

MakeAHero.org crews will document Robles’ experience on snow this weekend, creating a web video to share with people around the world. Raising awareness and funds in support of sports opportunities for people with disabilities is at the heart of MakeAHero.org’s mission.