By Maddie Lindgren, intern, Vermont State University, Class of 2025 

“Put her on that ski and for whatever reason she just wants to fly.” 

Mia Marinovich is talking about her 18-year-old daughter, Lucia. Lucia is in her element when skiing, a sport that speaks to her in a language of expression and exhilaration. She finds her voice.

In the car on the way to a race team practice at Vermont Adaptive’s Sugarbush/Mt. Ellen location, Lucia captivates her fellow athletes with her updates from the weather up at Sugarbush. She turns a mundane topic into a delightful conversation starter.

“It’s her way of connecting, of sharing a piece of herself with others no matter how small,” Lucia’s mother said.

Lucia is a high school student, and her mom Mia says because Lucia is “non-verbal, developmentally delayed, and has many mobility issues,” it’s been hard for her to communicate with her classmates. “She goes to school and they don’t hear her say five words but she comes here to Vermont Adaptive, and she’s chatting with these athletes. It’s magical,” Mia said.

Once on the slopes, Lucia is in her element. She talks about how many times she went down the trails, how fast she could go, and whether she fell on her face or not. 

“One time, they came off the ski lift and she went face first,” Mia said. “She came in and wore it like a badge, she was like ‘Look at all the snow all over me.’ ”

Every Friday, Lucia eagerly anticipates her Vermont Adaptive ski days with the Champlain Valley Union (CVU) group. Sundays are reserved for her adventures with the Special Olympics Race team who train with Vermont Adaptive coaches and instructors. 

Vermont Adaptive Program Coordinator Sarah Keith and Program Manager Felicia Fowler offer guidance and encouragement, empowering Lucia to push herself further. They created a system with a bar and colored straps that Lucia can use with the bi-ski. When Sarah or Felicia call out a color to a strap, Lucia understands which way to turn, helping to move the ski with the rotation of her body.

“All the instructors and volunteers work as a team, even some of them who haven’t met each other,” Mia said. “It doesn’t matter the age; they’re all doing the same thing, they’re here for the common good.”

Skiing isn’t just a sport for Lucia, Mia said, it is a sanctuary, a place where she can be herself without judgment or limitations.“She is a completely different person when she is skiing,” said Mia. “There is something about getting bundled up, the routine, and the weather, that resonates with her.”

For Lucia and her family, skiing is more than just a hobby; it is a lifeline. It provides Lucia with a sense of purpose and a reason to smile even on the coldest of days.

“She doesn’t have a lot of stuff she can look forward to, she doesn’t get excited about much,” Mia said. “This time of year, as much as I hate the cold, I don’t think I could ever leave [Vermont] because she loves this so much. After two years, this has become such a passion for her.”

Mia said that everyone in the family wants to give Lucia these opportunities and to see her excel. Skiing has been an outlet of joy and comfort for Lucia, and she will continue to do it for as long as she can, Mia said.