All Images: Courtesy of Purgatory Resort
Every year, January is celebrated as National Learn to Ski Month and this January also marked Purgatory Resort’s 41-year partnership with the Adaptive Sports Association (ASA). As a way to encourage newcomers of all abilities to get out on the slopes, Purgatory Resort has been the host and sponsor of ASA since 1983.
The founder of ASA and an adaptive athlete himself, Dave Spencer, first visited Purgatory when he returned to skiing as part of his rehabilitation program after losing his leg to cancer. He loved the experience so much, Spencer moved his life from Wisconsin to Southern Colorado and got a job with the ski area as a part-time ski school instructor.
With the encouragement from his first adaptive student, Spencer joined forces with veteran ski instructor Joe Wilson to build a full-fledged adaptive program. Unfortunately, Spencer passed away in 1986 but his efforts and goals continue to live on in the Adaptive Sports Association, getting “clients out on the slopes with friends and family and personalized instruction.”

Offering programs and activities for every season, ASA’s winter program operates out of Purgatory Resort and delivers one-on-one lessons with state-of-the-art equipment for youths and adults with a wide range of disabilities to receive the tailored instruction they need to succeed.
“Our partnership with the Adaptive Sports Association highlights our shared mission to make skiing and snowboarding inclusive for all,” says Matt Ericksen, marketing director at Purgatory Resort, in a recent press release. “It’s a privilege to host this program and support the life-changing experiences it provides to participants and their families.”

For 2025, Purgatory and ASA have full day and half day lessons for adults 13 and older and kids 12 and under. The cost of a lesson includes private instruction, equipment rental and a lift ticket but scholarships are available to ensure financials never hold an individual back from participating. ASA also offers free access to all winter programs for military veterans with a disability rating.
“Our partnership with Purgatory Resort is essential to the success of ASA’s mission of providing transformative outdoor programs for individuals with disabilities,” says Ann Marie Beresford, Executive Director with the Durango Adaptive Sports Association, in that same press release. “Together, we can break down barriers and create meaningful, life-changing experiences for individuals of all abilities to enjoy the freedom and joy of skiing.”
For almost half a century, ASA’s program at Purgatory Resort has been a guiding light for Durango’s community, empowering individuals with disabilities to build confidence and independence in the great outdoors. As another National Learn to Ski Month comes and goes, ASA and Purgatory continue to deliver an all-inclusive adaptive ski experience.