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Andrew Kurka
Andrew Kurka’s first dream wasn’t skiing — it was wrestling! He became a six-time Alaskan state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. But when Andrew was 13 years old, he had an ATV accident that seriously injured his spine.Two years later, with encouragement from his physical therapist, Andrew tried mono-skiing through a program called Challenge Alaska and he fell in love with it!Andrew worked hard and qualified for the U.S. Paralympic team for the 2014 Games in Sochi, but unfortunately he crashed in training and couldn’t compete. He didn’t give up. At the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Andrew made history by winning two medals — gold in sitting downhill and silver in super-G — becoming the first-ever Alaskan Paralympic medalist!At the 2022 Paralympics in Beijing, Andrew competed even with a broken nose, thumb, and humerus bone. He finished fourth in the sitting downhill before returning home to recover from his injuries.Off the slopes, Andrew runs his own bed and breakfast called the Golden Standard, where people with disabilities can explore the Alaskan wilderness by flying and fishing. He even got his Sport Pilot license from Purdue University so he could fly guests to exciting adventures!Andrew’s story shows that with courage, determination, and a love for adventure, you can turn challenges into amazing achievements.
