Adaptive Sports Association

What Adaptive Sports Association does

Adaptive Sports Association (ASA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1983 and headquartered in Durango, Colorado, that provides year-round adaptive outdoor sports and recreation programs for individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities. Its core offerings consist of a Winter Program (adaptive skiing, snowboarding, and sit-ski instruction delivered November–April at Purgatory Resort) and a Summer Program (whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, cycling, rock climbing, and overnight camping delivered May–September across Durango-area rivers, lakes, and trails). The organization supplements these programs with specialty scholarship weeks — including the New Dimensions Program (since 1999), the Ross and Sue Ehrhardt Scholarship (San Diego, since ~2005), the Madison West Kiwanis Scholarship, the Learn To Ride mountain biking scholarship, and the free Veterans Outdoors program delivered in partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project — as well as a financial-assistance program that subsidizes participation regardless of income. Technical delivery relies on state-of-the-art adaptive equipment (sit-skis, adaptive trikes, rafts, kayaks, paddleboards), 50+ PSIA/AASI-certified adaptive instructors, and roughly 280 trained volunteers.

ASA's business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue structure. Approximately 450 participants are served annually across a mix of paid lesson slots (winter adult full-day lessons at $295, half-day at $230; child rates $215 and $135), free veterans programming, and fully subsidized scholarship packages that include transportation, lodging, equipment, instruction, and meals. Revenue is diversified across program fees, individual donations (Salsalabs, Colorado Gives Day, Amazon Smile, City Market Community Rewards), tiered corporate sponsorships (Premier Annual, Primary Corporate, Program, and event tiers such as the Dave Spencer Classic), foundation and Kiwanis grants (notably the Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation), planned-giving/estate gifts, and in-kind equipment donations. Go-to-market is community-led: referral pipelines run through local school districts, Special Olympics, healthcare/therapeutic recreation providers, veteran service organizations, and word-of-mouth, with no paid advertising. Distribution is exclusively direct — staff and volunteer instructors deliver services at ASA's year-round office at 463 Turner Drive #105 (summer) and its Purgatory Resort office at 47 Skier Place (winter).

Name

Adaptive Sports Association

Legal name

Adaptive Sports Association

Website

https://asadurango.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Adaptive Sports Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Durango, Colorado that delivers year-round adaptive outdoor recreation — adaptive skiing, snowboarding, rafting, kayaking, cycling, and camping — to people with physical and cognitive disabilities regardless of ability to pay.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

Keywords

• Adaptive outdoor recreation
• Adaptive skiing instruction
• Therapeutic recreation programs
• Disability sports services
• Veteran outdoor therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Durango

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Participant Fees: Fees charged for winter ski/snowboard lessons. Full-day lessons for adults are $295, half-day $230; children's rates $215 and $135 respectively. Includes private lesson, lift ticket, and equipment rental. Summer program fees vary and financial assistance is available.
2. Individual Donations: Online donations accepted via Salsalabs platform, mail-in donations, Colorado Gives Day recurring donations, and Amazon Smile. Individual donors are explicitly credited as a key revenue stream.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Business sponsors at various tiers (Premier Annual Sponsor, Primary Corporate Sponsor, Program Sponsor, and Dave Spencer Classic sponsors at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze levels). Sponsors receive recognition at events and in sponsor packets.
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Grants from Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation (San Diego program), City of Durango Community Support Funding, and other foundations. Also receives scholarship funding through Madison West Kiwanis Club.
5. Planned Giving / Estate Gifts: Bequests through wills, gifts of life insurance, retirement plan beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts, appreciated stock, and real estate.
6. Gear and Equipment Donations: Accepts donations of outdoor clothing and equipment including camping, rafting, lake day, skiing, and snowboarding gear.
7. Retail/Community Programs: Amazon Smile (donation portion of purchases), City Market Community Rewards (ID#10216), Colorado Gives Day annual campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Adaptive Sports Association provides year-round adaptive outdoor sports and recreation programming for people with physical and cognitive disabilities, delivered directly by PSIA/AASI-certified staff and trained volunteers. The core Winter Program offers adaptive skiing, snowboarding, and sit-ski instruction at Purgatory Resort (November–April), and the Summer Program offers rafting, kayaking, canoeing, cycling, rock climbing, and overnight camping in the Durango, Colorado area (May–September). All necessary adaptive equipment and instruction are included, with financial assistance and free veteran programming to ensure access regardless of ability to pay.

Product overview

Adaptive Sports Association operates as a single unified service model offering adaptive outdoor sports and recreation programs for people with disabilities. The core offerings consist of a Winter Program (adaptive skiing, snowboarding, and sit-ski instruction from November through April) and a Summer Program (rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, cycling, and camping from May through September). These core programs are supplemented by specialty scholarship programs including Learn to Ski Scholarship Weeks, Learn To Ride Scholarship for mountain biking, Veterans Outdoors (free for veterans with disabilities), New Dimensions Summer Sampler, and the San Juan River Women's Leadership trip. Additional services include equipment rentals, financial assistance, and volunteer training programs. The organization serves over 450 individuals annually with approximately 280-300 active volunteers, providing all activities regardless of participants' financial limitations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New Dimensions Program: Learn to ski scholarship program for individuals with physical disabilities, established in 1999
• Ross and Sue Ehrhardt Program
• Madison West Kiwanis Club Scholarship
• Veteran Ski Retreat
• Learn To Ride Scholarship
• Veterans Outdoors
• San Juan River Women's Leadership

Products and services

• Winter Program Adaptive skiing, snowboarding, and sit-ski instruction for people with physical and cognitive disabilities, delivered November through April at Purgatory Resort in Durango, Colorado. Lessons include a private instructor, lift ticket, and adaptive equipment.
• Summer Program Year-round adaptive outdoor recreation offered May through September in Durango, Colorado, including whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, cycling, overnight camping, and flatwater paddle sports for people with disabilities.
• Learn to Ski Scholarship Weeks Multi-day learn-to-ski scholarship weeks for first-time adaptive skiers with disabilities, fully funded by partner foundations (Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation, Madison West Kiwanis Club, and others). Packages include transportation, lodging, equipment, and instruction.
• Learn To Ride Scholarship Four-day mountain biking scholarship program for individuals with physical disabilities, including transportation, lodging, adaptive equipment, and certified instructors.
• Veterans Outdoors Free adaptive sports programming for military veterans with disabilities (those with a service-connected disability rating), including winter ski/snowboard lessons and summer day programs. No cost to eligible veterans.
• New Dimensions Summer Sampler Four-day outdoor adventure scholarship week for individuals with physical disabilities featuring rafting, fishing, flatwater paddle sports, cycling, and scuba diving activities.
• San Juan River Women's Leadership Week-long all-female veteran river trip on the Upper San Juan River, co-hosted with Team River Runner, focused on personal and technical growth for women veterans.
• Adaptive Equipment Rentals Rental of adaptive road and mountain bikes, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards for program participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves more than 450 individuals with disabilities annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Move UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASA is a member of Move United — a national adaptive sports organization described as 'using the power of sports to push what's possible for people with disabilities, confronting ignorance, fueling conversation, and inciting action that leads us to a world where everyone's included.' ASA uses Move United's liability waiver and is listed as a member chapter.
• Wounded Warrior ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncreased veteran participation has been supported by Wounded Warrior Project. ASA provides dedicated Veterans Outdoors programming for military veterans with disabilities at no charge, including ski retreats and summer programs.
• Purgatory ResortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary Corporate Sponsor and host venue for ASA's winter program. Purgatory Resort provides access to ski facilities and ASA maintains a dedicated winter office on-site at 47 Skier Place.
• Durango Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Annual Sponsor of the Adaptive Sports Association, providing significant annual corporate support.
• Disabled Sports USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASA operates as a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit under Disabled Sports USA – Durango. Federal Employer ID: 94-2938093. Disabled Sports USA is the national parent organization.
• Team River RunnerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for the San Juan River Women's Leadership Trip — an all-female veteran river trip established in 2010. ASA and Team River Runner co-host this multi-day whitewater paddling experience for women veterans.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Ability Center: Park City, Utah-based nonprofit offering year-round adaptive outdoor recreation (skiing, cycling, equestrian, water sports) to people with disabilities. Operates a similar Move United-affiliated model with certified instructors and adaptive equipment, making it the closest direct peer in the Mountain West.
• Eagle Mount: Bozeman, Montana-based nonprofit providing adaptive recreation (skiing, horseback riding, swimming, cycling) for people with disabilities and youth with cancer. Operates a parallel volunteer/instructor-driven model with year-round programming in a similar mountain-resort context.
• Higher Ground: Sun Valley, Idaho-based adaptive recreation nonprofit emphasizing therapeutic recreation and veterans programming. ASA's Program Director Rachel Huggins interned here, and the organizations share curriculum, veteran focus, and Move United affiliation.
• Challenge Aspen: Aspen, Colorado-based adaptive ski/snowboard and recreation nonprofit serving people with disabilities and veterans. Comparable in offering, structure (501(c)(3), instructor-based, equipment-inclusive), and target population to ASA, with a similar Purgatory-style resort partnership model.
• Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra: Mammoth Lakes, California-based adaptive ski and recreation nonprofit. Directly comparable adaptive winter sports delivery model at a single resort anchor, with similar summer programming expansion history.
• Achieve Tahoe: Tahoe-area adaptive ski and recreation nonprofit offering year-round adaptive outdoor programs. Comparable in operating model, instructor certification approach, and Move United alignment; serves a parallel California/Nevada market niche.
• Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center: Breckenridge, Colorado-based adaptive outdoor education nonprofit offering ski, raft, climb, and team-building programs. Operates a similar year-round model at a Colorado resort and is a fellow Move United chapter — directly comparable in geography, scale, and offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Move United: National umbrella organization for adaptive sports in the U.S., of which ASA is a member chapter. Provides shared liability waivers, advocacy, and chapter coordination — a strategic incumbent rather than direct competitor, but sets standards and routing for participants nationwide.
• Disabled Sports USA: National nonprofit under which ASA operates as a certified chapter ("Disabled Sports USA – Durango"). Provides federal 501(c)(3) umbrella structure and broader network reach, similar to Move United at a parallel layer.

Emerging players

• Team River Runner: National adaptive paddling nonprofit serving veterans and people with disabilities. ASA partners with TRR on the San Juan River Women's Leadership trip; partial overlap in veteran paddling programming makes it a peer in the river-trip specialty.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/asadurango
• Facebookfacebook.com/adaptivesportsassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adaptive-sports-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Adaptive Sports Association