Paralyzing injury couldn't stop this athlete

Cinema at the State presents "Full Circle" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Lodge, 1226-1/2 Lincoln Way in Auburn. Grand Prize Winner in the 2023 Banff Mountain Film Competition, "Full Circle" tells the inspiring story of a snowboarder, paralyzed in a backcountry accident, who refused to be limited by his injuries and went on to become a competitive sit-skier athlete. In 2014, snowboarder Trevor Kennison became paralyzed in a backcountry accident. Wheelchair-bound and facing an uncertain future, Kennison's life expanded dramatically when he tried sit-skiing, using an adaptive device enabling wheelchair users to ski, giving him newfound purpose. Five years later, he became the first sit-skier to launch into Jackson Hole's "Corbet's Couloir" expert ski run for the "Kings & Queens of Corbet's" competition. His death-defying 60-foot leap of faith went viral and launched his career as a professional athlete. More importantly, it earned him a spiritual mentor. In a twist of fate, the namesake of Corbet's Couloir, Barry Corbet, paved the way for Kennison's superhuman feats. An intrepid skier and Jackson Hole legend, Corbet broke his back in a 1968 helicopter crash. Following his injury, Corbet became a groundbreaking leader in the disability community, showing that growth after spinal cord injury is possible for everyone, not only adaptive athletes. Corbet's and Kennison's paths aligned through their shared resiliency and zeal for life. Ally Karacozoff of the High Fives Foundation will conduct a Q&A session following the film. The Truckee-based, nonprofit foundation was founded by competitive freeskier and coach Roy Tuscany, who was paralyzed in a ski accident, to help people recover from life-altering injuries and return to sports such as skiing, biking and surfing. High Fives supports more than 700 athletes with life-changing injuries on the road to recovery and improved quality of life. The foundation works to prevent accidents by educating people of all ages on mountain safety and awareness, provides financial support and healing resources to and enables individuals to reintegrate into outdoor sports and recreation. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, and $10 seniors and kids 11 and under (includes $2 fee). Purchase tickets at AuburnStateTheatre.org or 530-885-0156.