Challenge Alaska

Move United / Locations /

Challenge Alaska

Chapter

Challenge Alaska improves the lives of people with disabilities, their families and the whole community through adaptive sports, therapeutic recreation, and education.

Participation in Challenge Alaska’s programs helps people break down the barriers that may exist for them in many aspects of life. We accomplish this by building confidence and security, creating an infrastructure for support, increasing mobility, and improving health. Challenge Alaska’s mission promotes education, social development and involvement, employment, and the ultimate goal of independence.

Challenge Alaska is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and the whole community through sports, recreation and education.

Challenge Alaska was founded in 1980 and incorporated in 1981 by Douglas Keil and other individuals dedicated to providing sports and recreation opportunities for the disabled. Mr. Keil was electrocuted at age 14 and as a result his left arm and leg were amputated. After struggling for years with depression Doug visited Winter Park, Colorado in 1975, which turned his life around. After winning two Gold Medals in Norway with the US Disabled Alpine Ski Team, Doug was determined to bring those same opportunities to the disabled community of Alaska and in 1980 Challenge Alaska was born.

Beginning in a broom closet at Alyeska Ski Resort with less than a dozen participants Challenge Alaska now serves over 1,000 people with disabilities each year with a wide variety of programs and services from Sled Hockey to Hospital Based Therapy as well as Book Clubs, Cooking Groups, Camping, Fishing, Soccer, and much more.

Activities

See All

Adaptive Archery

Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, swimming has been one of the Games’ main sports. The thrill of competition aside, swimming offers many benefits including strengthening the cardiovascular systems and the major muscle groups of both the upper and lower body. It also develops flexibility in the muscles and joints as…

The people you meet through tennis are friendly, happy, optimistic and outgoing, They just want to have a good time and want others to have a good time. – Steve Kappes, Director of the San Diego Wounded Warrior Tennis Program and Director of Military Outreach for the San Diego District Tennis Association All About…

Getting Started Get Out and TriThank you to Dare2tri for contributing information and photos for this article. Paratriathlon made its Paralympic competition debut in Rio 2016. The sport, which combines swimming, running and biking into one race, has been rapidly growing in the U.S. and abroad among athletes at all age ranges and ability levels. From…

Water Skiing 101 Ride the Wake! There is nothing like spending a warm summer day by the water. But water-skiers will tell you that even better is a day spent water skiing along on the surface of the water with the wind in their hair. Don’t think because you have a disability that you can’t…