Shaun White and Zach Sherman on the chairlift at Woodward Park City. Photo: Courtesy of Challenged Athletes Foundation

PARK CITY, Utah — Late in March, the San Diego-based Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and Olympic snowboarding legend Shaun White collaborated on a special surprise at Woodward Park City for Zach Sherman, a triple amputee from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Shaun and Zach shared laughs and the two spent some time racing down the slopes. Later White presented him with a CAF grant for coaching, travel, and training expenses so he can pursue his dream of competing in adaptive snowboard competitions.

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“I thought I was just going to train with my coach at Woodward in Park City,” Sherman said. “When I was waiting at the chairlift, a snowboarder wearing all black walked up to me, lifted his goggles, and said ‘Hey dude, I’m Shaun, wanna go take some laps?’”

Sherman lost both legs and an arm following a life-threatening motorcycle accident in 2010. He’s been an avid snowboarder since the 1990s, with it always holding a special place in his heart.

Over the last 12 years, Zach has done his best to adapt — by stepping out of his wheelchair and establishing mobility thanks to prosthetic legs. He’s currently enjoying an independent life.

After several years of developing a set of feet with binding attachments, he has relearned how to snowboard and has been able to improve on the prostheses to become a better adaptive snowboarder.

“It was an amazing morning on the mountain meeting Zach, he is such an inspiration to everybody,” White said. “I was thrilled to play a small part in his journey with adaptive snowboarding and help support the mission of CAF to provide opportunities and access to sports for people with physical challenges.