Ra God: Ravi Drugan
Special Notice: half of all Big D Revenue between now and February 12th will go to support Ravi’s athletic pursuits. For more information on our Big D goggles, please go to the Big D goggle page or go to the Ra Store.
Ravi’s bio from his website:
Ravi lost both of his legs above the knee after being hit by a train in December 2004 and miraculously survived. He never looked back.
Ravi has hand controls and drives a black 1986 Trans Am, which he eventually raced autocross in Eugene, Oregon with the Emerald Empire Sports Club, and won many trophies, but there is no auto racing in the winter. This led Ravi to find monoskiing, and his mother found a phenomenal program with Oregon Adaptive Sports.
Ravi was a natural! right from the beginning, and enjoyed freeriding, deep powder, hitting the terrain park, and was the fastest to learn, that his instructors, Ben Sparrow had ever seen. Ravi bought his own mono-ski from Hands On Concepts in 2010, with the help of a grant for Challenged Athletes Foundation, which gave him the ability to go skiing anywhere he wanted. One day at Mt. Bachelor, Ravi got to ski with a former member of the US Disabled Ski Team, who noticed his talent and encouraged him to pursue training, which he did, through the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah. Ravi was invited to compete in the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado in January 2011, just three weeks before the games. Thanks to the support of his local ski shop, Berg’s Ski and Snowboard Shop,Hoodoo Ski area, and Oregon adaptive sports, the community raised enough money to send Ravi to the X Games and to train for the rest of the season with the NAC.
Ravi had an amazing performance at the X Games, and is invited back this year for the 2012 games. Ravi then went on to win first place at the Para-snowboarding World Cup in Lake Louise, Canada. Ravi is currently training for the Winter X Games and for the World Cups and the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.
from http://www.katu.com/sports/137858108.html
A little excerpt from Ra:
Ra doesn’t usually sponsor athletes, but Ravi’s story is so inspiring, and his personality so warm, we were honored to be approached about sponsorship. Ravi is one of the best athletes in the world, and he got there by overcoming a tragic accident with the right attitude and determination. To be part of the exclusive team that can offer Ravi some of the best skiing technology in the world is such an honor.
Quote from Ravi:
Lovin my Ra Optics goggles, the Big D rocks! Gonna be wearing them in Orcieres, France, leaving on the 30th! World Championships, oh yeah!
from www.kval.com/sports/114396249.html
Ravi Drugan Mono SKi Destruction from Jim Sanco on Vimeo.
