Finding Joy on the Mountain: How Hanger Foundation Helps Families Belong on the Slopes
When the Sterner family first arrived at Wasatch Adaptive Sports, their hands were full, and they did not quite know what to expect. They brought their kids, a bag full of gear, and a lot of hope.
What they found changed everything.
Audrey and Ryan Sterner have been participating with Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS) since they were three years old. Audrey, described by her family as “by far our most adventurous,” was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at eight months old. Ryan, who is non-verbal, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 14 months. After their diagnosis, their mom, Trisha Sterner, says, “It was really just hard to be hopeful, I think, for the future and what opportunities they’ll have to participate in.”
Then they found the slopes.
For Ryan, the mountain has become a place where he is truly seen. For Ryan’s dad, Josh Sterner, it’s meaningful to see Ryan experience the mountains in the way he did at his age:, “To see the same joy that I used to have doing those things, to see them experience that as well, it just means everything.”
Scholarship assistance has made that joy accessible. With support from the Hanger Foundation, WAS enables families who might not otherwise have the resources or opportunities to enjoy adaptive mountain sports together.
A Season That Delivered, Despite the Odds
The Sterner family is one of 493 unique individuals with disabilities who participated in WAS programs during the 2025-2026 winter season. Together, they generated 2,055 total recreation experiences across adaptive indoor cycling, yoga, skiing, snowboarding, ski-biking, and snowshoeing. That number held strong despite real challenges: poor snow conditions, unexpected instructor injuries, and changes to ski resort operating hours all cut into lesson capacity.
Those challenges didn’t hold back the community from a full season on the mountains.
One hundred thirty-seven people tried WAS for the very first time this season. Behind each of those experiences, were 195 volunteers who gave 1,802 hours of their time as instructors, assistants, and event supporters.
Milestone & Momentum
This winter also brought new achievements for WAS. The organization expanded to two days of slalom ski races at the 40th Annual Steve Young Ski Classic, hosted 150 veterans and active service members for a free half-day of skiing through the Highly Decorated event, launched its first-ever recurring Special Olympics practice team, and completed the third year of the intermediate-to-advanced SitBird Monoski Camp.
Every donation to the Hanger Foundation helps fund programs like Wasatch Adaptive Sports, where scholarships open doors, volunteers show up, and people with disabilities find joy, community, and belonging. Ninety-six percent of WAS experiences this season were made possible through scholarship support. Your gift keeps that number growing.
