Jordan “JK” Nadel began losing his vision in 2013 due to a rare condition, non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). By 2014, he had lost significant vision—85% in his left eye and 50% in his right—but his condition has since stabilized.

An avid skier since age 5, JK grew up racing before vision loss forced him to relearn the sport. Undeterred, he became a certified ski instructor, earning PSIA Alpine Level 2 and Children’s Specialist 2 certifications.

In 2024, after attending a race camp at Mt. Hood, a coach encouraged JK to pursue a racing career on the US National Para Alpine Ski Team. To reach that goal, he joined the National Ability Center’s High Performance Team, drawn by its expertise in coaching visually impaired athletes.

When he’s not training at the NAC, JK lives in Berwyn, PA, with his wife, Kathy, and their three sons—AJ, Ryan, and Evan—who are all excellent skiers.