Andrew Kurka was 13 years old when his life changed.

A spinal cord injury left him adjusting to a future that looked very different from what he had imagined. Like many young people adapting to life with a physical disability, he was searching for independence, direction, and something that would help him move forward.

Two years later, he found it on a ski slope.

A Life Changed and a New Path Forward

“The first time I started skiing, I realized I loved it,” Andrew says. “I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.”

What stood out immediately was the feeling of freedom. Speed returned. Movement returned. On the mountain, he felt a sense of control and possibility that had been missing.

That first experience quickly turned into a goal: racing, competing, and eventually reaching the Paralympics.

The Opportunity That Made Racing Possible

Reaching that level in alpine skiing requires more than determination. Sit-skis and racing equipment are highly specialized, and the cost can put the sport out of reach for many athletes just getting started.

Early in his journey, Andrew received a grant from CAF that provided his first sit-ski and made it possible for him to begin training seriously.

“CAF bought me my very first sit-ski,” Andrew says. “They believed in me at that one moment.”

That moment became a turning point. With the right equipment and support, Andrew was able to train consistently, build skills, and begin racing. Progress came step by step—learning technique, strengthening his body, and gaining experience on increasingly challenging courses.

What began as a new activity became a serious commitment.

Competing on the World’s Biggest Stage

Andrew’s commitment to training and racing eventually carried him to the international level and onto the Paralympic stage.

He represented the United States at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2018 and 2022, earning a gold medal in downhill and a silver medal in super-G in 2018—results that placed him among the top alpine sit-ski racers in the world.

Competing at that level demands precision, strength, and focus. Courses are fast, conditions change constantly, and races are often decided by fractions of a second. Athletes train year-round, balancing physical preparation with travel, equipment tuning, and race strategy.

Andrew has continued to compete internationally and is now preparing for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, pursuing another opportunity to race on the world stage.

Despite competing at the highest level, Andrew still traces everything back to the beginning—discovering skiing and receiving the support that made it possible to pursue the sport seriously.