The First Disabled Descent of Denali – Breaking Barriers with Vasu Sojitra
The Red Bench Speaker Series presents, The First Disabled Descent of Denali – Breaking Barriers with Vasu Sojitra on Thursday, November 17th at 7pm via Zoom.
Vasu Sojitra is breaking barriers as an adaptive athlete as well as an advocate for racial justice and inclusion. Sojitra is climbing and skiing the highest peaks on one leg. He climbed the Grand Teton, and in 2021, he and fellow adaptive skier Pete McAfee did the first disabled descent of Denali, the highest peak in North America. The excursion was featured in the latest Warren Miller ski film. Sojitra is also the first adaptive athlete for The North Face and is a co-founder of Inclusive Outdoors Project. Vasu began backcountry skiing as a student at the University of Vermont, where he graduated in 2013. His first pursuits as an adaptive athlete in Vermont were the subject of a 2014 film, Out On A Limb.
Vasu Sojitra will discuss his Denali descent and his other adaptive skiing accomplishments as well as his ongoing work to make the outdoors more inclusive for marginalized people. We will also see excerpts from recent films featuring Sojitra.
This Red Bench discussion will be moderated by David Goodman, author of Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast and host of The Vermont Conversation, on WDEV and VTDigger. David profiled Vasu in the New York Times earlier this year.
RSVP here to receive a ZOOM invite. Virtual doors to the Museum open and the discussion begins at 7:00 PM. The event is complimentary, but a $10 donation from each guest is encouraged, greatly appreciated, and helps us keep this series going. You can also purchase a 2022/23 Red Bench Series Season Pass here.
Series sponsors include Schoeller Textil, r.k. Miles, AJ’s Ski & Sports, Sisler Builders, and Vermont Ski + Ride.
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