Given that most pro and amateur athletes remain sidelined by the pandemic, June is shaping up as a surprisingly active month on the adaptive sports calendar.
Everything’s virtual, of course. We haven’t quite reached the point where it’s safe for competitors to assemble on the field or spectators to fill the bleachers. But after almost 90 days of inactivity, we’re glad to have a few honest-to-gosh events to bring to your attention.
Front and center: the Virtual Endeavor Games, which begin tomorrow and run through the weekend. We briefly outlined the format a couple of weeks ago, but just as a refresher: The event runs June 4-7, with a dozen instructional clinics and 11 competition challenges. Keep up with the action on Facebook.
A couple days after the Endeavors blast off, AmpSurf will hold the first of its two June virtual clinics. As you might recall, AmpSurf co-hosted one of the last organized competitions to be held before we all went into quarantine, the World Para Surfing Championship (which featured winning rides by a number of amputee surfers.) This weekend’s virtual surf clinic, to be held on Saturday, will feature PegLeg Bennett, a British LBKA who describes himself as “48 going on 18” and “a one-legged dad living the full-time van life.” Speakers are still TBA for the second virtual clinic, which is scheduled for June 27.
On June 19, the three U.S. Paralympic triathletes who swept the podium in 2016—Alyssa Seely, Hailey Danz, and Melissa Stockwell—will lead a team of 10 riders on a 24-hour, 483-mile border-to-border bicycle relay across Colorado. To pull it off they’ll have to sustain an average speed of 20 miles an hour for a full day, across some of the most challenging terrain in the world. The goal is to raise money for individuals (including para athletes) who’ve suffered financially because of COVID-19. Make a donation, check out the route, and watch Amplitude’s social feed for the results.
The month’s parasports slate wraps up with Week 1 of the Virtual Angel City Games from June 22 through 28. Opening ceremonies take place June 22 at 1 p.m. Eastern time / 10 am Pacific, followed by six days of virtual clinics, competitions, and community fun. Featured sports include track and field, wheelchair basketball, and esports. You can register online, and if your schedule won’t permit you to participate in June (or even if it does), no worries: Weeks 2 through 4 are spread throughout the rest of the summer months.
