WINDHAM – Zach Elder, Charlie Kleiman and Andrew Stout of the Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) Snowboard Competitions Team will be heading out west to Copper Mountain, Colo. to participate in the United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) National Championships, taking place March 29-April 2.
Elder, Kleiman and Stout will be competing in the Adaptive Kekoa Class, which was officially integrated into the national competition structure for the first time at the 2025 USASA National Championships, in a historic milestone for adaptive snow sports, thanks to the advocacy of the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s athletes and larger community of supporters. In recognition of the ASF’s pioneering role in the creation and development of the Kekoa Class, USASA presented a special award to the ASF just ahead of its National Championships in 2025.
The Kekoa (Hawaiian for “The Brave”) Class recognizes the many snowboarders with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to compete on the same day, time and courses in all six disciplines as the rest of the snowboard community. USASA, a training ground for many past, present, and future Olympians, is a trailblazer in creating pathways for adaptive athletes to participate competitively alongside peers.
As members of both the ASF Competitions Team and the USASA’s Catskill Mountain Series (CMS), Elder, Kleiman and Stout had the opportunity to compete at world-class venues, rack up National points, and work toward qualifying for the USASA National Championships throughout the entire 2025-26 winter season.
The trio will begin their competition week on Sunday, March 29, when they enter the starting gate for the Slalom race. Elder, who also competes in both the racing and the freestyle events, will participate in the Halfpipe and Rail Jam on Monday, March 30. After an off day on Tuesday, Elder will be back on the slopes for the Boardercross event on Wednesday, April 1. Elder, Kleiman and Stout will all round out their week with the Giant Slalom competition on Thursday, April 2.
This marks the 13th appearance at the national championships for both Elder and Kleiman, while Stout will make his second appearance.
