Kelly Brush / Photo Kelly Brush Foundation
In alpine ski racing, athletes spend their lives learning how to operate at the limit.
They race down icy terrain at highway speeds, trusting preparation, strength, skill, and instinct while knowing one mistake can change everything instantly.
Kelly Brush understands that reality better than most.
In 2006, Brush was one of the top collegiate ski racers in the United States when a crash during an NCAA race caused a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed. What followed became the foundation for one of the most influential safety and adaptive sports movements in North American skiing.
Now that mission is expanding globally.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the Kelly Brush Foundation announced in a joint release that they signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving alpine racing safety worldwide while also expanding access and opportunity in Para Snowsports.
The partnership connects skiing’s international governing body with an organization that has already transformed thousands of lives through adaptive recreation, safety advocacy, and athlete support programs across the United States.
More importantly, it reflects a growing belief across snow sports that the future of skiing must be both safer and more inclusive.
Turning tragedy into action
After her injury, Brush and her family identified two major needs within the skiing community: stronger attention to race safety and better access to adaptive recreation for people living with spinal cord injuries.
The Kelly Brush Foundation was created to address both.
According to information provided by the foundation, the organization has distributed more than $6 million in adaptive sports equipment grants while also supporting camps, scholarships, and recreation programs that have introduced tens of thousands of people with disabilities to active outdoor lifestyles.
Adaptive sports equipment can cost thousands of dollars, placing skiing, cycling, and other activities financially out of reach for many families. The foundation has helped bridge that gap by funding equipment and creating opportunities for athletes to return to the sports and communities they love.
At the same time, the organization has become a respected advocate for ski racing safety, helping clubs and resorts improve protection systems through education initiatives and grants for equipment such as B-netting and tower pads.
Today, Brush serves as a pediatric nurse practitioner, mother, skier, biker, golfer, outdoor athlete, and leader of the foundation that continues to inspire athletes both inside and outside the ski community.
Why the partnership matters
For alpine skiing, safety conversations are never theoretical. Modern racers generate enormous speed on terrain that demands absolute commitment. While risk will always remain part of the sport, organizations across skiing continue searching for ways to better protect athletes without compromising competition itself.
That is where the Kelly Brush Foundation has built credibility over nearly two decades.
By partnering with FIS, the foundation’s experience in safety education and infrastructure can now help influence programs and standards internationally, including in emerging ski nations where safety resources and adaptive sports opportunities may still be limited.
“Partnering with FIS allows us to scale our impact globally,” Kelly Brush said in the announcement. “Together, we are elevating the importance of safety in ski racing and bringing the successes we’ve had in the US to an international audience. We’re excited to have FIS as a partner with shared values and priorities.”
FIS President Johan Eliasch said the collaboration extends beyond safety alone.
“Together with the Kelly Brush Foundation, we are not only expanding access to sport, but also building a safer, more inclusive environment where athletes of all abilities can thrive,” Eliasch said. “By combining our expertise and global platforms, we have the opportunity to create lasting impact and accelerate the growth of Para Snowsports worldwide.”
Four priorities moving forward
According to the joint announcement, the partnership will focus on four primary areas:
- Developing stronger universal safety standards for alpine racing
- Expanding access to adaptive equipment and Para competition pathways
- Increasing visibility for Para athletes and ski racing safety initiatives through major FIS events
- Building long-term fundraising support for safety and inclusion programs
Both organizations said additional announcements regarding future projects and initiatives are expected later this year.
More than a ski racing story
The significance of this partnership extends beyond competition.
For many people living with paralysis, adaptive sports can restore confidence, independence, identity, and community after catastrophic injury. The ability to ski, bike, or simply participate outdoors again can become life-changing.
That is why the work of the Kelly Brush Foundation resonates far beyond the ski world.
At the same time, its continued push for stronger race safety reflects a commitment to protecting future generations of athletes in one of the world’s most demanding sports.
One athlete’s life-changing crash nearly 20 years ago sparked a movement that has already impacted thousands of lives. Through this partnership with FIS, the Kelly Brush Foundation now has an opportunity to extend that impact around the world.
This article is based on information provided by the Kelly Brush Foundation and FIS.
About the Author: Peter Lange
