ASF Celebrates Student Accomplishments With Annual Ralph Hartman Tribute Cup

Above photo: Ben Buchanan

WINDHAM — The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) celebrated the end of its 2025-26 winter season of teaching adaptive ski and snowboard lessons and providing life-changing experiences on the slopes of Windham Mountain Club on Saturday, March 14, with its annual Ralph Hartman Tribute Cup.

The Ralph Hartman Tribute Cup is a fun race down Windham Mountain Club’s "Whiteway" trail and is open to all ASF participants who took either seasonal or daily lessons with the organization during the winter season. It celebrates the accomplishments and athletic abilities of the ASF’s adaptive athletes.

The day began at 9 a.m. when participants went through a typical two-hour morning lesson and had the opportunity to take practice runs through the racecourse. Racers then returned to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center for an hour-long lunch before the 12:30 p.m. race.

The festivities began with a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” performed by ASF Sliders student and Hartman racer Anna Lazare. The traditional parade of flags followed her performance, featuring members of the ASF Competitions Team and Sliders skiing and snowboarding down the racecourse while proudly carrying the flags of several nations along with an Adaptive Sports Foundation flag.

One of the more memorable moments of the day came when Grant Stubbs, captain of the ASF Competitions Team, skied down the slope waving the ASF flag while announcing his retirement from racing after more than 30 years.

When the first racer, David Stuart, crossed the starting gate and began his descent, the competition began. In total, 43 adaptive athletes took two runs down the course while family members, friends and spectators cheered from the finish area.

After the race concluded, racers and their supporters returned to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center for the awards ceremony.

The ceremony began with volunteer service awards honoring ASF volunteers celebrating milestone seasons. Race awards followed for competitors who finished on the podium in their respective classes.

The ASF then presented several season-long awards to students and volunteers who demonstrated dedication and a love of snow sports throughout the winter.

The first award presented was the Stu Smith “Magic Man” Award, given to the student who best exemplifies enthusiasm, good cheer and a love of snow sports. This year’s recipient was Alex Jonas.

The Robert “Buff” Donnelly Award, presented to the student who shows exceptional courage, determination and a love for life, was awarded to skier Antonio Gonzalez.

Andrew Forman earned this year’s Volunteer Rookie of the Year Award for his performance and helpfulness in his first season with the ASF.

The Ralph Hartman Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Adrian Pavalascu for his extraordinary help throughout the winter, particularly for driving the ASF shuttle and demonstrating a strong commitment to the organization and its students.

The All-Around Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a volunteer who contributes significant time to both the ASF’s summer and winter programs. This year’s recipient was Matt Driscoll.

The ASF also presented the Volunteer Committee Impact Award. The honor, chosen by the ASF Volunteer Committee, recognizes an individual or group from the Windham community that has made a significant impact on the organization through advocacy, community engagement and support of the ASF’s mission to empower lives through adaptive sports. This year’s recipient was the Windham Race Club Parents Association, who organized several fundraisers for the ASF throughout the winter season, and has been a supporter of the foundation for many years. Tim Carey, the treasurer of the association, accepted the award on behalf of the group.

The final award presented was ASF Mom of the Year, given to Joyce Huang, a supportive parent who volunteers much of her time inside the lodge while her son, Mark, trains on the slopes with the ASF Competitions Team.

Later in the evening, the ASF hosted the Ralph Hartman Tribute Cup Dinner Dance at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center. The annual party features a different theme each year, and this year’s theme was rock ’n’ roll.

The 125-guest celebration featured ASF volunteers Joslyn Hughes and Nora Young as the evening’s DJs, along with dancing, food and rock ’n’ roll-themed decorations as guests dressed as if they were attending a rock concert.

The ASF thanks every student, parent, volunteer, donor and supporter who helped make the 2025-26 winter season a success.

The ASF will wrap up its winter season on Sunday, March 22, its final day of adaptive ski and snowboard lessons of the year. The organization’s summer program schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

Grant Stubbs