BRECKENRIDGE – On April 6, 2002, Matt Wyffels was competing at Copper Mountain and broke his back.
After suffering a spinal cord injury, doctors told Wyffels he’d never be able to use his legs again.
Wyffels resisted.
He has spent the last year without a wheelchair and has even strapped into his snowboard again, which you can see at www.sittallstandtall.com/
Since his accident, a benefit has been held each spring to help Wyffels pay for his Physical Therapy.
The annual Matt Wyffels Benefit starts today in the Freeway Terrain Park at Peak 8 in Breckenridge and runs through Friday.
Today, a slopestyle competition will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while on Thursday a superpipe competition will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The grand finale on Friday will be a rail jam held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., which Wyffels is expected to attend.
“We take all the registration money and give it to Matt, but then we provide prize money as well,” Breckenridge Freeride Team manager Amy Sabrine said, speaking of the $10,000 in cash to be handed out in the three competitions.
Each competition will feature men’s snowboarding and skiing divisions as well as an open women’s division.
Registration will be at Boarder’s Burritos at Peak 8.
Today and Thursday, registration take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m., followed by a competitors meeting held immediately before competition at 10:15 a.m.
On Friday, registration runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m., with a competitors meeting held at 1 p.m.
Preregistration for all three events is $75.
Slopestyle and superpipe are $30 each and the rail jam is $25.
Event day registration will be available for an additional $5 per event.
Preregistration is available by calling Breckenridge Ski Area at (970) 453-5000.
