At the Hoodoo Ski Area in Oregon, Ukrainian war veteran Oleksandr Shvachka is finding his way back to physical and mental wellness. Having lost his left leg to a Russian tank attack near Kyiv, Shvachka is now more than 5,000 miles from home, embracing a new journey under clear blue skies. As part of his ongoing rehabilitation, he’s participating in ski lessons provided by Oregon Adaptive Sports, an organization dedicated to making sports accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Recently, Shvachka was seen carefully listening to an instructor before gliding down a snow-covered slope. He used hand-held outriggers, devices similar to forearm crutches with small skis at the ends, to aid in balancing and turning. Describing the experience as an “amazing emotion,” Shvachka reflected on his journey from being wounded in Makariv, a village outside Kyiv when Russia invaded Ukraine in March 2022, to now skiing down the mountain.
For over three decades, the city of Corvallis in Oregon has maintained a sister city relationship with Uzhhorod in Ukraine. This relationship has facilitated the visit of Shvachka and four other Ukrainian veterans, who are currently being hosted in Corvallis. Also accompanying them are two Ukrainian ski coaches, as mentioned by Carol Paulson, co-founder of the sister city association. Their mission is not only about personal recovery but also to equip the ski coaches with skills in adaptive skiing, which they aim to bring back to Ukraine to support the thousands of war amputees in their homeland.
“The key is to remind these veterans that they can fully engage with life,” Paulson expressed. She noted that skiing provides a unique sense of independence and well-being. Having taught adaptive skiing to Vietnam War veterans, Paulson emphasizes that the serenity and peace found in skiing are particularly transformative.
Adaptive sports play a crucial role in Shvachka’s recovery, offering both physical challenge and emotional support, especially with comrades beside him. In 2023, Shvachka ran a 10K race in Washington, D.C., organized by the U.S. Marine Corps, and later participated in the Arnold Classic Europe, a competitive multi-sport event. There, eight veteran competitors achieved a strongman world record by pulling four semitruck cabs over 65 feet in just over 30 seconds, a feat celebrated on the event’s Instagram page.
Pat Addabbo, executive director of Oregon Adaptive Sports, shared his view on the restorative power of sport, saying that such experiences can truly change lives. “People from all over the world, including right here in our ski area, are learning skills that could have a significant impact when they return home,” he remarked.
The group of veterans and ski instructors plan to take adaptive equipment like outriggers back to Ukraine to instruct others in three-track skiing—a technique using one large ski and two outriggers—benefiting those who are amputees. Kristian Minai, a Ukrainian instructor, is optimistic about the future. “This marks the beginning of a new era for our war veteran rehabilitation programs,” he said. Minai, who also coaches Ukraine’s national deaf ski team, envisions a day when their athletes might stand on the Paralympic podium. He shares this ambition with a hopeful smile for the potential rise of Ukraine’s national Paralympics ski team.
