We’re thrilled to share that NEVI Fest has been featured on Maine Public’s acclaimed show Borealis! The segment offers a heartfelt, visually rich look into the New England Blind and Visually Impaired Fest (NEVI Fest), an annual event that showcases the power of adaptive sports technology and the vibrant community that surrounds it.
NEVI Fest brings together students and their families from across the region to hit the slopes of Sugarloaf. As one guide put it, “Skiing is skiing. We’re all doing exactly the same thing on the snow. We’re just all doing it in slightly different ways.”
The Borealis episode captures the spirit of the event with interviews, on-snow footage, and powerful moments of connection. You’ll hear firsthand from students whose lives have been transformed by access to adaptive recreation—and see some of the innovative equipment in action.
One participant shared: “I feel the speed of going downhill. I feel free and happy.” Another added, “There’s a lot of people who say, ‘You’re blind, and you ski?’ That’s not what we say. We say, ‘You’re blind. Would you like to ski?’”
From the deep bonds formed between guides and skiers to the personal breakthroughs that happen on the slopes, the impact of this program is unmistakable. “I’ve had a lot of people tell me that I can’t over and over and over again,” one skier explained. “NEVI Fest really brought me out of that bubble… Just keep pushing forward with your life. Live it to the fullest and try to do all the things that make you happy.”
Participant Willow described her experience this way: “We go pretty fast usually and can end up further away from each other. So the radios make it so that Louise does not have to shout my turn commands to me.” Her guide added, “There’s a lot of obstacles while you’re guiding. There’s people, and there’s moguls, and there’s chairlift poles, so I’m constantly telling her if something’s coming up. I always check the trail report to see what’s been groomed and what hasn’t. She never says no. She likes challenge, so it’s kind of neat because we both like a challenge.” Willow also expressed her gratitude for the relationship between skier and guide: “For me it changed because I can’t see the trail anymore. I can’t see when people are getting close to me. I put all my trust in Louise, my guide, and I trust that she’ll get me through things. Louise and I kind of clicked first day, like really quickly. In fact, I had a guide yesterday said we ski like poetry ’cause we ski so similarly. She’s like family now.”
Maine Adaptive is proud to host NEVI Fest and support the mission of making outdoor adventure accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. Having NEVI Fest recognized on a platform like Borealis means more people will have access to what’s possible when barriers are removed and community comes together. “They’re not victims. They’re victors,” says one of the Sugarloaf partners. “It’s just such a spectacular, empowering thing and why we really embrace Maine Adaptive.”
If you missed the original broadcast, don’t worry—check it out below!
A big thank you to the team at Borealis and MPBN for helping amplify the voices of adaptive athletes and sharing our story with viewers across Maine.
Stay tuned for next year’s NEVI Fest—we can’t wait to welcome you!