Competitive freeskier and coach Roy Tuscany was training on Mammoth Mountain in California when he launched 130 feet off a 100-foot cliff, burst fracturing his T12 vertebrae and rendering him paralyzed from the waist down upon impact. After having high hopes of becoming a world-class professional skier, the 24-year-old athlete had to relearn everything from the ground up.
Roy received an incredible amount of encouragement and support from his community during his recovery and triumphantly returned to the slopes just two years after his accident with the help of advancements in skiing technology. It occurred to him that others may face similar life challenges and have the same desire to rediscover their identity through sport, access to the great outdoors, and community. So he founded an organization that would address these needs.
Tuscany created High Fives Foundation in 2009, a California-based, national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prevents accidents by educating athletes of all ages on mountain safety and awareness, provides financial support and healing resources to 700+ life-changing injury survivors, and enables these individuals to reintegrate into outdoor recreation by breaking down barriers and advocating for inclusivity.
