Elite Competition
The National Ability Center prepares athletes with disabilities for elite competitions, including the Paralympic and Special Olympic games. These dedicated athletes train in Park City, Utah, for the opportunity to compete at regional, national, and global levels.
The Paralympic Games are the adaptive equivalent of the Olympic Games for athletes with physical disabilities. The Paralympic Games are held after the conclusion of each summer or winter Olympic Games. Each year at the National Ability Center, we have dozens of emerging elite and Paralympic-level athletes training with the goal of reaching the next level of sports performance and achievement.
Alpine Ski Team
Alpine race education and training are combined with the appropriate level of competition to foster athlete development and fine-tune skills needed for high-level competition. We encourage and expect personal achievement and want every athlete to find the top step of their own personal podium. The Alpine ski season runs from November to mid-April, with most training sessions held at Park City Mountain.
One of the hallmark events hosted by the National Ability Center is the Huntsman Cup, an international alpine skiing competition for adaptive athletes. This prestigious event attracts both emerging and elite athletes from around the world, offering a platform for them to showcase their skills and advance in their competitive careers. The Huntsman Cup is a vital step for many athletes on their journey to Paralympic success.
Snowboard Team
The adaptive snowboard program began in 2008 at Park City Mountain. We are proud to have one of the world’s first and longest-running adaptive snowboard training programs. This program serves any athlete with a physical disability interested in training for the Paralympic competition.
All training is based on identifying individualized athletic goals and development paths to develop snowboarding and individual skills to prepare for elite competition. The snowboard season runs from November to mid-April, with most training held at Park City Mountain.
Year-Round Training Center
The National Ability Center welcomes visiting athletes, part-time athletes, and those desiring a full-time training commitment. Our location in Park City, Utah provides access to first-rate facilities ideal for high-altitude training, twelve months a year.
We are located just 40 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport and are surrounded by world-class training and competition venues including Park City Mountain, Canyons Village, Deer Valley Resort, Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Park City Ice Arena, and Utah Olympic Park.
Sponsor An Athlete
- Team Gold: $10,000 Provides travel and race expenses for up to 5 athletes to travel to a National Competition
- Team Silver: $2,500 Provides a scholarship for one athlete for one season
- Team Bronze: $1,000 Supports equipment costs throughout the training season
- Team Coach: $500 Supports athletes and staff to travel to outreach and speaking events for children and adults of all abilities and share their message of challenge and achievement
- Team Fan: $250 Supports lodging scholarships to offset the high cost of living while training