Batcheller's book focuses on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team

Lori Batcheller

Lori Batcheller ('97 MA) is settling back into life in Boulder after being away for four years in Seattle and New England.

She recently wrote a book titled "Alpine Achievement: A Chronicle of the United States Disabled Ski Team."

"I first became exposed to disabled skiing while in graduate school for physical therapy in 1985 during an elective course on recreation for the disabled. I wrote a paper on the subject and attended a clinic at the Jack Frost Adaptive Ski Program in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains," she said.

Batcheller first moved to Colorado in 1986. A physical therapist, she said she became a volunteer adaptive ski instructor for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center.

"I volunteered for three years and learned a lot more about the abilities of people with disabilities, earned free lift tickets and met some really fantastic people," she said.

Batcheller said the idea for the book came from the team's doctor, Mike Messner.

"When Mike heard I had switched from physical therapy to journalism, he suggested writing the book since so many people are unaware of the existence of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and the abilities of these elite athletes," she said.

Batcheller said Associate Professor Jan Whitt helped her develop confidence in her writing ability.

"Jan taught me that patience with the writing process was required to create real quality manuscripts. I also took her course on the new genre of creative nonfiction where we analyzed several books and authors," she said.

Batcheller's Web site, www.lbcreative.com, contains more information on "Alpine Achievement" and her other writings.

batcheller@earthlink.net