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Santiago Vega

Santiago Vega

Ski

Pronouns: April 7th 1997

Hometown: Santiago de Chile

Current Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Favorite Zone: Wasatch range/Uintas range /. Apocalypse Couloir GTNP

Proudest Achievement: First Disabled Ski Descent of the Grand Teton. Via Ford-Stetner

Favorite Advocacy Org: Wasatch Backcountry Alliance

Biography

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A transplant from the Chilean Andes, I am a full-time mountain guide in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains of Utah. I was born with a disability that led to the amputation of my right leg below the knee as well as a malformation of my right hand. I had to learn to adapt to meet my objectives and goals for as long as i remember. I've been able to do countless First disabled ski descent and climbing ascents all over the US and South America and had the opportunity to stand on the summits of challenging mountains among friends, I want to inspire the next generation of adaptive athletes and to push what is possible to do with a prosthetic. I long for those cold, windy, and snowy days in the mountains when the skin track is deep or the skiing is challenging. I love to those early mornings when the air crisp and its dark outside where your whole world is contained to the beam of your headlamp. And I thrive when I'm tired, beat and the going gets tuff. For its those days that teach me the most about myself and where I grow the most.

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ATHLETE MENTORSHIP INITATIVE

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The SCARPA Athlete Mentorship Initiative presented by Mountain Hardwear has been created to connect and engage the SCARPA and Mountain Hardwear Athlete teams with accomplished athletes from historically marginalized communities aspiring to take their sport or career to the next level. The mission of this program is to connect mentors with mentees focused on the sports we serve to provide participants with opportunities for personal, athletic and career development with the goal of helping to create a more inclusive and diverse community of athletes.

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Q & A

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  1. Who were your influences early in life?: First and foremost, My Grandfather. He was a pioneer of mountaineering in chile and an incredible mentor. He taught me how to move in the mountains as well as how to be a good person.
  2. What draws you to the outdoors?: Every time I go into the mountains I feel like I grow as a person. I always come out with something new. It could be knowledge, wisdom, new skills or even new perspectives. That growth is what keeps me returning to the mountains day in and day out
  3. What makes a good skiing/climbing/running/hiking partner? : I try to be the partner I seek. I want to be supportive yet willing to challenge decisions, I want to be always psyched yet grounded, knowledgable and skilled yet always open to learning. And most importantly I always bring the snacks. Gummy candy is life.
  4. How are you going to pass on what you learn in the mentorship program to others?: I hope to use the SAMI Program to organize events to further develop the adaptive backcountry community as well as to provide knowledge and training opportunities for individuals with disabilities.