In this powerful episode of the HOPE podcast, host Kate Dudley sits down with U.S. Para Sliding Development Director Kim Seevers from Lake Placid during a stop on the inaugural Para Skeleton Legacy Tour.
Born out of the energy of the Invictus Games, this international tour is creating new pathways for veterans and adaptive athletes to stay connected to sport, purpose, and community. From Norway to Switzerland to the U.S., athletes are not only learning new tracks, but they’re also rediscovering confidence, identity, and what’s possible after injury.
Kim shares how the tour came to life, why expanding beyond Lake Placid was critical, and how partnerships, including Hope For The Warriors, helped remove financial barriers so athletes could fully commit to the experience.
More than just a sport, Para Skeleton offers something deeper: a powerful mix of adrenaline, focus, and healing. As Kim explains, it mirrors the intensity of combat while also demanding mindfulness, discipline, and control.
With eyes set on growing the sport globally, and a long-term goal of reaching the Paralympic Games, this movement is just getting started.
0:00 – Welcome from Lake Placid & intro to the Legacy Tour
1:10 – How the Invictus Games sparked the movement
3:15 – Why para skeleton is so powerful (and accessible for beginners)
5:20 – Taking the tour global: Norway, Switzerland & beyond
7:10 – Why international experience matters for athlete growth
9:00 – How Hope For The Warriors helped fund the tour
11:15 – Athlete impact: confidence, identity & recovery
14:00 – The mental + physical transformation through sport
16:10 – Why veterans are drawn to sliding sports (adrenaline + focus)
18:30 – Chaos vs. control: the meditative side of skeleton
20:30 – Camaraderie and connection among military athletes
22:30 – David Snipes’ story: resilience, innovation & breaking barriers
27:00 – The future: World Cup dreams & Paralympic goals
30:00 – Why these stories matter—and what we can all take away
32:00 – Closing + (maybe) taking a run down the track