Pictured right is Don Hickman with Willie “One Arm” Stewart, a 1994 and 1998 Nordic Paralympian after they completed a cross-country ski day recently at Ogden Nordic.

Ogden Valley and the Paralympic Winter Games

By Don Hickman - 28 February 2026
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The flame of the Paralympic Winter Games will light again this Friday, March 6 in Milano-Cortina, Italy.  In eight short years that same flame will return to Ogden Valley.  Snowbasin Resort will host the 2034 Paralympic Winter Games para-alpine skiing events along with the 2034 Olympic alpine skiing events.  Our very own Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports will welcome paralympic athletes from around the world to Snowbasin’s world-class venues. 

As an alpine racing fan, over these past two weeks I watched Mikaela Shiffrin’s thrilling victory in the Olympic Slalom, Breezy Johnson’s gold in the Women’s Downhill and Lindsay Vonn’s agony of defeat in the Olympic downhill at Cortina Italy.  Next up are a strong American team of paralympic alpine racers, led by Hannah Kearney and Andrew Kurka.

Skiing Snowbasin’s Grizzly downhill top to bottom is daunting enough for an able-bodied skier.  Imagine, if you will, racing the course on one leg, in a sit-ski, or without eyesight.  You can get a taste of the action this Friday, March 6 at Snowbasin.  Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports will host a two-day Adapt2Thrive winter sports celebration at Snowbasin Ski Resort, featuring the Bradley Cup adaptive ski race on Friday, March 6, followed by Demo Day on Saturday, March 7.

On Friday, the Bradley Cup brings together approximately 30 to 40 adaptive athletes for Ogden Valley Adaptives’ signature winter race, held from noon to 3:30 p.m. in Snowbasin’s Little Cat area. The day will also include a live, informal community watch opportunity of the 2026 Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony, connecting local athletes and families to the global Paralympic movement. Please join Mayor Janet Wampler and me as we cheer on the athletes and participate in the awards ceremony at 4:00 p.m. in the Snowbasin plaza.  I might even ski a couple of laps with the racers as a longtime volunteer with the program. 

We’re beginning our preparation for 2034.  Janet is actively communicating our interests and needs within Weber County’s Olympic planning committees. For the City, I applied for a grant from the State that would in part fund planning for any infrastructure upgrades we might need to the support the Games. 

For more information, visit www.ogdenvalleyadaptive.org.
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Note: Don Hickman represents District 5 on the City Council and has served on the Board of Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports since 2013.  He’s also a volunteer coach and guide with the US Paralympic Nordic (Cross Country Skiing) Development team. He’s guided multiple visually impaired athletes in US National Cross Country ski races.