At nine-months old, Vasu Sojitra contracted septicemia, an infection that caused a blood clot in his right leg. “So they had to amputate it,” Vasu says. “I don’t remember it. I’m just completely used to it…it’s a lifestyle now.” Skiing is part of Vasu’s lifestyle, too, and he skis the backcountry 20 or so days each winter.
For a full profile of Vasu Sojitra, pick up the October issue of Backcountry Magazine.
“I just center my leg over my body and lean forward with my arm and use that crutch as a pole, plant that and spin off it. To me right now, it doesn’t seem like a problem. I’ve gotten used to it.”
“Skiing down isn’t hard, but it’s just constantly pulling myself up the mountain that is. Once the season starts, and I get a handful of backcountry days in, I’m definitely more used to it. The first day is always the hardest.”
“Me and my friends are thinking of going out west and skiing the Powder Highway. We’re trying to buy a minibus right now to go out there.”
“I’m trying to be in the Paralympics for alpine skiing. That’s through Vermont Adaptive. I don’t have race skis, though. I’d rather spend my money on powder skis.”
“I volunteer with Vermont Adaptive. Right now, I kayak with them every Thursday. I want to volunteer more though. I want to show people that it’s possible to be good at skiing if you have a disability.”
Vasu RoCKS! however, I HAVE A GOOD BUDDY. . . wAYNE dEwALL, ALSO AN AMPUTEE THAT HAS BEEN SHREDDING jACKSON hole FOR MORE THAN 2 dECADES. tO SAY THAT wAYNE IS “FAST” UNDERSTATES WHAT FAST IS. “wAYNO”
AS HE’S AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN, JUST PLAIN rips AND HE rIPS THE ENTIRE “big one.” I’VE HAD MANY DAYS SKIING WITH wAYNO UNDER ALL CONDITIONS (CHEST DEEP TO FROZEN OCEAN) WHEN TWO LEGS WEREN’T ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH wAYNO. I’ve ALSO PADDLED DOWN THE GRAND cANYON WITH wAYNO TWICE, BOTH TIMES HE IN A KAYAK WHILE I ROWED A BIG, COMFY RAFT. oF COURSE, HE DID ALL THE DAY HIKES, SO DON’T ASK. AND WATCHING HIM PLAY VOLLEYBALLY INSIDE THE REDWALL CAVERN, ALL OF US WITH HEADS FULL OF ADVENTURE IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON THAT TRIP. vASU HAS SOME BIG “”SHOE TO FILL AND HE MIGHT WANT TO DROP wAYNO A NOTE TO SEE HOW THIS OLD SCHOOLER DID IT YEARS AGO BEFORE EVERYBODY HAD SHORT, FAT SKIS THAT MADE IT ËASY”WHICH IS EASY FOR ME TO SAY AS I WALK AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER ON MY TWO LEGS .
Hey thanks for the respect! and yeah i would definitely love to chat with Wayne, seems like the go getter (sounds like someone I know) But totally hit me up. prefer facebook, so my email and phone dont get bombarded.
Cheers Bortha!
VaSu,
Way to get after it, I’m in Jackson too and ski teton Pass a bunch. Come out, you can crash on my couch and I’ll show you around the pass. I’m on Facebook…….if you are interested. I know folks with teton Adaptive and can connect you there too.
Stay Awesome,
Matt Stech
jackson, Wy
Respect man !!!