Park City para snowboarder Kate Delson got her start in the sport when she was just 6 years old in Mammoth Lakes, California.  Delson had been skiing since she was 3, but she begged her parents to let her try out snowboarding because she was struggling to control her skiing.  Delson was bor n with a disability causing muscle weakness in her right leg. As soon as Delson’s parents caved, she knew snowboarding was her sport. Her legs worked much better in tandem on the board.  Delson rose the ranks of the sport, often the only para snowboarder at competitions. In 2024, she made a name for herself on the para snowboard World Cup circuit, finishing the season ranked ninth in the world at 18 years old.  In 2025, Delson won the first two World Cups of her career and finished the season ranked second. Her success drew the eyes of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, who named her to the para snowboard team as the youngest snowboarder.  Delson started off the 2025-26 season with five more World Cup wins, punching her ticket to the Milano Cortina Paralympics, her first. In the Italian Alps, Delson proved she’s not just a young up-and-comer, but the best in para snowboarding: She won a gold medal in banked slalom and a silver in snowboard cross.  “Being a first-time Paralympian and getting to do what I love most on the biggest stage that we get to do it on was incredible for me,” Delson said. “Beyond 10-year-old Kate’s wildest dreams by far.” 10 year old Kate was likely looking up to her Milano Cortina U.S. teammates like Branna Huckaby and Mike Schultz. Ranked fifth and third in the world, respectively, in 2016, Huckaby and Schultz competed in their third Games in Italy. Huckaby shared the banked slalom podium with Delson, winning the bronze medal.  “To be the youngest on the team is definitely a cool experience,” Delson said. “Some of them have been in the sport since it was created; Keith Gable from Utah was there for the first-ever World Cup they held for para snowboarding. …  So just being surrounded by those people all the time was pretty cool.” She continued, “To win two medals is definitely a very sweet cherry on top.” Delson believes being a newbie to the Games helped her revel in the whole experience and compete without expectations. It didn’t hurt having the loving support of family and friends in Cortina.  Delson would like to follow in some of her teammates’ shoes and help push the sport forward. She believes para snowboarders have much left to show the world at future Games.  “I feel like we put on a show,” Delson said. “I’m proud of how every single one of my competitors rode and put on a show for the world. I’m excited just to keep pushing that level.” She continued, “Hopefully there’s some younger girls coming up that I don’t know about yet. … I want people to know that they can come to me and reach out to me, however that may be, and we can get them started on snowboarding.” Delson wants many others to experience the joy she does snowboarding.  Chasing fun on her snowboard, Delson has been snowboarding in Park City at Woodward. The action sports complex is chock-full of trick features, and Delson sees herself entering some slopestyle competitions next season.  “I am very eager to get back to training,” Delson said. “I think I’m the most driven I have been in a while, which is saying something because I was pretty driven this past season, too.”  When not on the slopes, Delson also trains at the U.S. team’s Center of Excellence in town. She works at the National Ability Center; both are in Quinn’s Junction.  “I’ve been based out of Utah since November 2023 and just recently up in Park City,” Delson said. “I’ve just really fallen in love with the area. It really feels like coming home when I come back here. … Park City has really brought a community, and that’s super important as a traveling athlete.”  She continued, “Especially in Park City, the Paralympic and Olympic spirit is always super high, and that’s another reason it is so cool to live here. 2034 is going to go crazy, and I am so excited for it and just to see where the sport is by then.” The post Park City’s Kate Delson thrilled to have competed in her first Paralympics appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less