In honor of the upcoming Paralympics, Achieve Tahoe recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ricci, a long-time Achieve Tahoe participant and paralympian who has returned to Achieve Tahoe programming this summer with support from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to participate with her kids.

Achieve Tahoe: Hi Ricci! Thanks so much for speaking with us! How did you hear about Achieve Tahoe? 

Ricci: I have been raised in the Sierras majority of my life. When I sustained a spinal cord injury in 2000 Achieve Tahoe reached out to me to participate in some ski lessons at Alpine Meadows.

Achieve Tahoe: What are some of your favorite memories with Achieve Tahoe, both individually and with your kids?

Ricci: Some of my favorite memories were taking some adaptive ski lessons at Alpine Meadows with the great legendary Bill Bowness. He would push me to my limits, which made me a better mono skier!! Another one of my core memories was rock climbing at Palisades Tahoe with both my kids; being able to reach the top of the route all together was PRICELESS!!!

Achieve Tahoe: What is your background in sport? 

Ricci: I’ve been an all-around athlete since I can remember. I got a scholarship in college for track and field to Idaho State for pole vaulting.  I participated in the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver Canada on the US Disabled Ski team.  My main sport now is adaptive sled hockey at Reno Ice in Reno. 

Achieve Tahoe: What is the importance of being able to do sports with your friends and family? How has Achieve Tahoe helped make this possible?                             

Ricci: Being able to do sports with my kids has helped my self esteem as a mother. It feels good to show them another side of mom. There is no better feeling than showing them a life skill that is a huge part of my life and participating at the same time! It also makes me feel more bonded and closer! These core memories of accomplishments will seriously last forever!!!!  

Achieve Tahoe: What would you tell other people considering participating with Achieve Tahoe?

Ricci: Being a part of Achieve Tahoe and their community has continued to make me reach and want to continue my goals of being physically active with my family and friends. They have given me a sense of purpose to create more of my amazing story that continues to unfold every year I’m apart of this program! All in all they have made me accept my identity as a disabled athlete. If you have a chance to be involved with Achieve Tahoe, you will be left with a forever imprinted smile on your heart! 

Check out the photos below to see highlight’s from Ricci’s day climbing with her children at Achieve Tahoe!

Ricci ascends using the seated climbing harness while her son climbs on the adjacent wall
Ricci’s daughter smiles at the camera at the base of the climbing wall
Ricci’s son has a hand on the wall, getting ready to climb
Ricci and her daughter look down at the camera while both climbing up the wall at the same time
Ricci’s son and daughter climb the wall simultaneously
Ricci gets ready to climb in a seated climbing harness

Ricci’s scholarships to participate in Achieve Tahoe’s programs is made possible by the Creating Opportunity and Independence Grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. Achieve Tahoe would like to thank the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation for your support in engaging participants with spinal cord injuries, and thank Ricci for sharing her story with the Achieve Tahoe community!