Winter Students
- » Leslie Brueckner
- » Shannon Weinert
- » Griffin Horwitz
- » Brian Chaffin
- » Stephanie Hergert
- » Nicole Martin
- » David Linn
- » Taylor Worden
- » Alex Saldivar
- » Chris Lanzafame
- » Thanksgiving 2004
- » Christmas 2004
- » February-March 2005
- » Shannon Weinert
- » Spencer Caserio
- » Daniel Kerner
- » Emory Rudolph
- » January Skiers - 2006
- » Alex Saldivar
- » Davis Wood
- » February-March 2006
- » Trent Sullivan
- » Grant Dewey
- » Jenny - April 2007
- » Ariana Sandoval 2007
- » Road With Autism 2008
- » Trent and I... 2008
Summer Students
Get Involved
DO GOOD - FEEL GOOD
Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra is successful because of many people and organizations.
Meet Our Students
They are the reason we exist and their stories are inspiring.
Choose any of the stories from the menu to the left and you will see what we are saying.
Read Diary of a DSES Volunteer by Mickey Pease to meet the students she helped.
Trent and I Were Supposed To Die by Ken Yegan

Trent Sullivan in March 2006
I was supposed to die in l965. Trent was supposed to die in l994. We did not die. Chronologically, this story starts in my senior year in high school. I was captain of the varsity swim team. I wanted to go to the United States Air Force Academy but I could not pass the physical examination. Seems as though my heart waves are opposite of everyone else's heart waves. When the technician/nurse at Castle Air Force Base near Merced California saw the waves, he checked all the electrical leads on my chest remarking that he must have made a mistake in hooking me up. I wasn't worried. He ran it again with the same result. The next thing I knew, there were half dozen technicians/nurses and doctors hovering around me.» More
Ariana Sandoval writes - "I have made new dreams
and memories in Mammoth… YOU ALL ROCK!!!!"

Thank you for getting me up on the chair lift. All of the face plants made me feel so strong. I know that sounds strange but the more I fell the more I grew in confidence.
I did not die! I lived. I am not just living anymore. Once I came off the snow, I can say for certain that I am now truly ALIVE. I want to try so many things. I want to climb and ride again. I will drive again. I hope to see all of you every break I get. I look forward to all my winters, springs, falls and summers! I thank you all for your friendships. I feel that I have met people of greatness. » More
Bi-Skiing With Jenny by Wally Hofmann

Here's a quick story and some photos about an amazing young woman. This week I've been working at Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra with a 21-year old student named Jenny. We've helped her get back on the slopes after a 5-year absence.
When she was 16 she was hit by a snowboarder at Mammoth Mtn and was paralyzed below the waist for about 18 months. Eventually, some muscle use came back, but she is still very weak and has chronic pain. » More
Trent Sullivan's Mammoth Year with DSES!

Trent Sullivan is a 12 year-old super skier who came to our program in 2006. He made several trips up with his family and also came along with the Camp Del Corazon group in March. He did an absolutely wonderful job over the season and was even skiing all on his own by his last trip! We had a great time with him and can’t wait to get him out on the slopes again next season! » More
Tyler and Sean Stern at Freedom In Motion

Tyler and Sean Stern participated in our Freedom In Motion Horseback riding trip. The kids were given small challenges such as the ring toss from the horse, riding side saddle and backwards on the horse. I think the personal favorite of Tyler was the petting zoo where the kids got to feed the 400-500lb pig, pet the goats and the baby donkey. Tyler is in a red t-shirt and Sean is the other one. » More
A Two Day Camp THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

For the last twenty years I have been a sedentary single leg, amputee. I had no idea that there was an organization that explicitly helped people with disabilities. When I was told that it did, in fact, exist in Mammoth, and that I could participate, I jumped at the chance. I signed up for the two day camp called the Paddle and Pedal.
On the first day of the campout, we pedaled custom made hand-cycle bikes from McGee Creek campground to Crowley Lake store and back. A great combination of exercise and fun. The volunteers were an especially great group of people, and they gave a great deal of their time and effort to make sure that we had a great and safe day. I also commend them on their great sense of humor. On the second day of the outing we went kayaking on Crowley lake; what a blast! » More