On July 10, 2015
Sports

Adaptive Athletics: Paula Macneil Profile

Courtesy of InclusiveVermont.com

Paula Macneil

Every winter, thousands of people take to the mountains of Vermont to experience all that the state has to offer. Paula McNeill is no different. This mother of two has spent the last seven years working as a buyer at Killington Resort, which also is her home mountain for skiing and outdoor recreation.

In 2010, McNeill broke her back in a snowmobile accident, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. But after her accident, Paula found new ways to recreate.

“I’ve always been active,” she said. “If there wasn’t adaptive equipment to help me do the things I love, life would be really dismal!”

Along with skiing, Paula is an avid biker, swimmer, and kayaker. Using a hand cycle, she frequently bikes along the Burlington bike path. She also participates in two 100-mile charity rides: The Kelly Brush Century Ride and the Long Trail Century Ride to benefit Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. It’s easy for her to recreate in Vermont, she said, “You need to know where to go, but there are numerous places that are accessible.”

She kayaks regularly in the Chittenden Reservoir and the Woodward Reservoir in Plymouth Vermont, which she finds very accessible because there is a boat ramp at both sites. Paula says you don’t necessarily have to be a good athlete to enjoy a sport like kayaking. “It’s a very easy sport to do as a para. It is so beautiful to paddle around in the water and get to see all of the beautiful surroundings. There are views that you can only get from the water.

“Vermont is such a beautiful state, and to be able to come here and recreate is beautiful,” she said. “The people here are willing to help and make it easy for you. Don’t be afraid to just jump right in and try it!”

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

How Killington became The Beast: Part 7

April 23, 2025
By Karen D. Lorentz Editors’ Note: This is part of a series on the factors that enabled Killington to become The Beast of the East. Quotations are from author interviews in the 1980s for the book “Killington, A Story of Mountains and Men.” Despite the two-year delay to Killington’s debut—caused by the access road not…

How Killington became the Beast—Part 6

April 16, 2025
By Karen D. Lorentz Editors’ Note: This is part of a series on the factors that enabled Killington to become the Beast of the East. Quotations are from author interviews in the 1980s for the book ‘Killington, A Story of Mountains and Men.’ In 1956, the only way to reach Killington Mountain was via West…

Celebration sends off Superstar quad

April 16, 2025
On Sunday, April 13, Killington Resort said farewell to the Superstar Express Quad with a party at the K-1 Umbrella Bar, featuring free t-shirts at the top of the lift, live music, giveaways, and a photobooth. The lift ran until 5 p.m. for one last ride. The chair will be replaced with a 6-pack early…

Killington’s Dazed and Defrosted returns with livemusic, spring vibes, and season pass perks

April 16, 2025
Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m.—KILLINGTON–Killington Resort is sending off the season in style with its annual Dazed and Defrosted spring celebration. Known for its lively atmosphere, free live music, and nod to the season’s most dedicated skiers and riders, the event will take place slope side of the K-1 Lodge and is open to…