Katy Maddry competes at the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. (Photo: Mark Reis)

Every other week we scour the web for the latest going on in the world of U.S. Para snowboarding. Here’s what you missed!

Life-altering Journey

Katy Maddry, a 2022 Paralympian, traveled to Kenya to help kids learn how to use their prosthetic legs.

“Happy Limb Difference Awareness Month!!!” Maddry posted on Instagram. “I had the incredible opportunity to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, with 16 other prosthetists/therapists and spend 10 days mentoring kids on how to use their brand new prosthetic legs that @limbkindfoundation was able to provide.

“This week, we learned to celebrate our differences and embrace change. Many of the kids had relied on crutches, walkers, and hopping their whole life so this was definitely life altering!!!!!”

Maddry was in Kenya thanks to the Limb Kind Foundation, an organization based in Long Island, New York, that has gone on mission trips to Africa, Asia and Central America to help children with limb loss.

Happy Reunion

Two-time Paralympic medalist Mike Minor met up again with a young friend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. And what a memorable reunion it was.

“I met this wonderful young lady Layla in 2019 at @xgames in Minneapolis,” Minor posted on Instagram. “We got to skate together, talk about our passion of snowboarding & I got to share my paralympic medals with her. 4 years later she came strolling into the @adaptiveactionsports at @coppermtn with her coach @louievito and surprised me. So glad life had us cross paths again and I got to come cheer you on at your contests & ride on the mountain together too. Hopefully we get out again in the near future.”

Minor first competed with Adaptive Action Sports at Copper Mountain after working as a lift attendant at the resort.

Building Prosthetics

The Lewisburg Children’s Museum in Pennsylvania recently held a workshop for kids to build prosthetic leg models using household items like tissue boxes, egg cartons and tape.

The workshop began with a video of three-time Paralympic medalist and prosthetic engineer Mike Schultz.

“He is a great example of how to think through and approach a problem and work like a scientist,” said Kahla DeSmit, the museum’s director.

Brenna And Athleta

Three-time Paralympic gold medalist Brenna Huckaby visited the corporate headquarters of Athleta, which designs and produces performance wear for women.

“Had a blast in San Francisco with @Athleta!” Huckaby posted on Twitter. “It was so cool to check out the HQ, meet some incredible women, and wear some new product! So grateful for the experience & honored to be apart of the #PowerofShe collective.”

Snowboarding Future

Tyler Divilio, competing in the men’s UL class, made his world championships debut this year in La Molina, Spain. While he was in Spain, he was especially excited to spend time with two-time Paralympic medalist Noah Elliott after the two had met five years prior.

“I’ve been chasing around Noah for a couple of years,” Divilio told USParaSnowboarding.org. “Nowhere near his level yet, but I would love to be there someday.”