High Fives to Josh Dueck for bringing home a gold medal in the Men’s GS Super Combined and a silver medal in the Men’s Downhill at the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi Russia!
About Josh Dueck: Josh sustained a spinal cord injury in 2004 in a ski accident, leaving him completely paralyzed from the waist down. Josh quickly accepted the fact that life was going to be different, and he did his best to enjoy the process of adjusting to a new life. He found it to be a tough transition to acclimatize to, with all the physical, mental and emotional changes. It was with the hope that one day Josh would be able to return to the places he loves (the mountains and the ocean) that gave him the courage to move forward and live his dreams.
Congratulations to High Fives Athlete Keith Gabel for being part of a U.S. sweep in the first-ever Paralympic snowboard cross event. He won bronze behind teammates Evan Strong, who won gold, and Mike Shea, who earned silver.
About Keith Gabel: In June of 2005, Keith Gabel was involved in an industrial accident; over 2,000 pounds of hydraulic pressure crushed his left foot. After a series of medical procedures the decision was made to amputate. Keith is an action sports enthusiast with a background in big mountain and freestyle snowboarding. Just three months after his accident, Keith set his sights on making the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Team. In February 2013, Gabel won an International Paralympic Committee World Cup event in Slovenia, and in 2012 he earned an X-Games gold medal. He is currently ranked third in the world in his discipline of Para Snowboard Cross and has been named to the U.S. Paralympic Snowboarding National A-Team. A United States Team for Tomorrow Ambassador, Keith is also a humanitarian helping others with debilitating illnesses or injuries.