Not a myth but a miracle: Meet Vasu Sojitra, the one-legged backcountry skier

This amazing 23 year old one-legged athlete is making waves with his sporty adventures. Vasu Sojitra from Gujarat was diagnosed with septicemia when he was just 9 months old and his leg had to be amputated. But if you think this has slowed him down even a bit, you’re in for a shock.

Vasu was always the outdoor guy who loved playing sports. At school, he was part of the hockey and soccer teams and did wonders despite having a prosthetic leg. Unfortunately, after another major fall at the age of ten, even the plastic leg had to be removed. Fate was playing games with Vasu, but he was ready with an answer for each one of them.

At 15, he fell in love with one of the most dangerous games, skiing. This happened during a trip to Vermont and it was beyond the trainer there to figure out how to teach him with just one leg. Again, Vasu decided that he would help himself as he has always done.

Living in Connecticut now to pursue his skiing dreams Vasu is making waves. His best friend Alex Holt, referred his name to the Columbia Sportswear Ski Bum Scholarship in 2014. He was chosen for a three month vacation trip to the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in Canada. There, T Bar Films and Alpenlure helped him turn in a 90 second film for the scholarship contest. But Vasu came second.

Though he didn’t win the competition, there was a surprise awaiting Vasu. Thousands fell in love with the video and wanted to get a longer look at this young athlete’s skill. And this time, Columbia joined T Bar films and other producers to make the longer film ‘Vasu Sojitra: Out On a Limb’ that went on to win accolades at the Banff Mountain FilmFestival.

The film shows him on his most formidable skiing ventures in the backcountry, from breathtaking angles down mountains and cliffs. He is also heard speaking in detail about the challenges faced while shooting in the Chic Chocs mountain and the Vermont backcountry.

The adaptive skiing champion believes that disability is a mere hiccup and that the mind has the strength to conquer it. As he puts it, “disability is a myth” and it’s this conviction that has helped him turn a blind eye to apparent limitations. He is also planning on entering the Paralympics for Alpine skiing. His family and friends are helping him climb heights and not take a step back

Vasu is not just taking care of himself but is extending his experience to help others who see themselves as a part of adaptive sports. He encourages their ventures through Vermont Adaptive.

This wonder boy is also enthusiastically involved in many annual events that help promote the sport for adaptive players all around the world. Doesn’t this boy make you want to get up and do some good stuff yourself?