John Humbrecht
Recreation/Development | 2018
John Humbrecht, from Rollinsville, Colorado, was selected as the 2018 honoree in the Winter Recreation/Development category. While in graduate school at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Humbrecht took on an extra project to develop adaptations for people with disabilities to better utilize existing computer interfaces. He also joined Rocky Mountain Rescue and had some interesting experiences with that organization. Humbrecht rose rapidly through the Ignite ranks eventually becoming the Ignite Snowsports Director in charge of training, safety, and technical direction.
He started making training videos and is working on a training video for Eldora Lift Operations, demonstrating how adaptive equipment and participants load and unload and what may be required of the lift operator. Humbrecht developed an online scheduling system, now being used by several sister adaptive organizations. He also developed a smartphone sensor app for those who have no feeling in extremities to alert them regarding temperature problems in those areas. It has helped a number of people avoid frostbite. Another aid he is developing is a pressure sensor device used for sit skiers that will alert them to areas of excessive pressure in sensitive areas.
