Those who have passion often have a desire to change the world for the better. This is certainly the case for Vasu Sojitra, an adaptive backcountry skier whose passion extends to making the outdoors a more inclusive place for people of color and people with disabilities. Sojitra’s right leg was amputated when he contracted septicemia at nine months old. Although he was born in the United States, his family briefly moved back to India, where he witnessed extreme poverty. Prosthetic care was a continuous burden there, so his parents returned to Connecticut where he could have better opportunities.
Throughout his childhood, Sojitra’s brother motivated him to become fully independent, pushing him to try activities that were out of his comfort zone, including skiing. It happened that at age 10, the first day he hit the slopes, there was another lower-limb amputee there, which catalyzed his passion.
Read the full story in Amplitude Magazine.
Élan Young 