Hailey Griffin is a strong-ass woman and mother and if that were all that you knew of her she’d be happy. Having sustained an L1 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in January of 2019, she has gone from a sad scared little “disabled” girl to a force to be reckoned with.
She began monoskiing in 2020 and has already, to her name, a 2nd and a 3rd place podium, as well as a 4th place finish, from US and Canadian Nationals (2023) and has been featured in a full-length ski film (Advice for Girls) that is advocating for equitable treatment of women in the outdoor and ski industries. She conquered two first descents in a monoski at Snowbird, UT (Great Scott & North Chute) with a few of her teammates – also monoskiers – in the 2022-23 season and recently took 1st at Crested Butte, Colorado’s 2023 Adaptive Mountain Biking World Championships (the competition is nonexistent in her category, someone come and race her, please!). In the fall of 2022, she completed the White Rim Trail on her e-assist Stinger with a group of adaptive riders, riding with the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program (TASP) and Rim Tours, Moab. She also played a part in creating Crested Butte’s Community Compass (link), in which she was a proponent for better accessibility throughout the town because damn is it beautiful; EVERYONE should be able to explore its many wonders! She is highly involved with several foundations that support adaptive athletes (Sisters in Sports, High Fives) and also enjoys volunteer work with adaptive programs (Adaptive Sports Center, Telluride Adaptive Sports Program, National Ability Center).
“Seeing that spark in the eyes of participants who perhaps weren’t sure that they could partake in sport again but have now discovered that they can – that anything is possible if they want it badly enough (and have the right amount of support because, remember, none of us have gotten anywhere without the support of others) – is what it’s all about. It gives me chills every time.”
She is adamant in her belief that competition shouldn’t solely be about beating the opposition – her goals are consistently: to have fun, to learn as much as she can about skiing, and to make sure to support the friends and family that she has surrounding and supporting her, many of whom are chasing the same crazy dream (and, okay, yes, to show off a little while she does it).
“It’s not about winning, it’s about the relationships that we form through racing and doing hard things together. It’s about growing and progressing because of what it does for us within ourselves, and for those who have to deal with us! I never want to find myself doing it for the accolades. I do it for the thrill – the fun! Not the kind that you may imagine, necessarily, but if you’re not somehow enjoying yourself, what’s the point? I truly try to appreciate the small things in every day, because those are the things that matter the most to me; like a phone call from an old friend or an unexpected face-to-face meeting with a hummingbird or an especially challenging run on the hill. I try to stay present. You never know when life will change (or end) so I’m going to make the most of it!”
When she’s not playing out her dreams on the slopes, you will find her in her 1989 Chevy van, exploring back roads, trying to keep the adventure alive.
If interested in contacting her for any reason, email her at griffinheliz@gmail.com or on Instagram @gruffmagriff
