Veteran Helps Teach Adaptive Skiing at Mount Southington

Several times a week at Mount Southington, you’ll find a hero helping heroes.

Jerry Miserandino has made it his mission to help veterans ski the mountain because he knows they can.

"It’s more than one way to live your life other than sitting in a chair and saying this is all life has for me," Miserandino said.

As a bilateral arm amputee, Miserandino helps skiers like John Vacca learn how to use adaptive equipment through the LOF Adaptive Skiers program.

"Last time I was at Mount Southington I was not a standup skier yet," Vacca said.

Vacca, a below the knee amputee, took on Mount Southington with ease using a prosthetic leg designed specifically for skiing. The high down the mountain he says brings a healing effect as well.

"It’s like an addiction- once you do it you want to do it again and again," Vacca said.

For Miserandino, helping these veterans is more than just a hobby, it’s a reminder to them like any mountain in life, there’s always a down.

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