History
Thursday, 20 September 2007 02:50
U.S. Handcycling (USHF)
U.S. Handcycling provides a conduit to the cycling community by creating awareness, opportunity, and legitimacy for its members. Through coaching and education programs, competitions, and community outreach efforts, the USHF and its partners break down social barriers and bring cyclists of all ages, abilities, and interests together.
Affiliations:
- 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization
- National Association
- Member Organization, USA Cycling
- Member Organization, League of American Bicyclists
- Member Organization, Disabled Sports, USA
- Partner with Challenge Alaska
- Partner with the Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Organizer, U.S. Handcycling Series
History
Handcycling is a form of adaptive cycling that enables athletes of all abilities to ride a “bike” exclusively using the upper body. Handcycling is also one of the newest competitions at the Paralympic Games, where it made its first appearance in Athens, Greece in 2004, although it was first included at the World Championships in 1998.
Since the inclusion of handcycling as part of the IPC Cycling program in 1998, U.S. Handcycling has been involved in the development of the sport. Originally formed under the name "United States Handcycle Federation," the organization operates under both names and is often referred to using the acronym "USHF." Although the make-up of “disabled cycling” in this country and abroad has undergone serious change over the last ten years, the goal of U.S. Handcycling as a cycling organization dedicated to creating opportunities for wheelchair athletes as well as furthering the integration of cyclists with all abilities, still holds true.
U.S. Handcycling was created as a national governing body under the umbrella of Wheelchair Sports, USA (WSUSA) in 1998. Simultaneously however, U.S. Handcycling also set-up shop as a standalone 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in Colorado.
Working with Disabled Sport Organizations (DSOs) WSUSA, Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA), and the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), U.S. Handcycling fielded a national team for IPC international competition, and created a calendar of national events to identify American handcycling talent. The program was very successful initially, and that success was highlighted by more than 20 IPC handcycling medals – including five World titles – from 1998 to 2002, as well as integration within major U.S. cycling races.
In 2002, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) created a new division, U.S. Paralympics. The creation of the U.S. Paralympics marked a major shift in the structure of Paralympic sport in the USA, and the USOC identified U.S. Paralympics as the authority for elite national Paralympic athletes and teams, as well as selection competitions. As a result, WSUSA no longer managed elite programs, so U.S. Handcycling set out to work directly with U.S. Parlaympics to insure that handcyclists were represented under this new structure.
In 2010, U.S. Handcycling continues to work with U.S. Paralympics to help them reach more than just the “top of the pyramid” and create handcycling and integrated cycling opportunities in collaboration with dozens of grassroots organizations throughout the country. U.S. Handcycling has always had its finger on the pulse of handcycling, and regularly works with organizations covering a diverse demographic, from cycling clubs, to Parks & Recreation groups, to DSUSA chapters. The driving force has always been to help the cycling community become more integrated, and this ideal is inherent in everything we do.
In 2008, the UCI took over governance of Paralympic Cycling (including handcycling), and began the process of streamlining the sport to further parallel other programs under the UCI umbrella. This will eventually mean more integration at the national level, and we are pleased to report that the staff and Board of Trustees at USA Cycling are supportive and are already working closely with US Paralympics and US Handcycling.
U.S. Handcycling recently sat down to re-evaluate the goals of the organization, and re-group for the future. All of U.S. Handcycling collaborations are still in place, and the Board is directing the work of the staff to broaden the horizons of the organization, particularly when it comes to local and regional programs, and insure that handcycling becomes integrated within the USA Cycling structure in the right way. In addition, the Board has already made a key point to work on the image of U.S. Handcycling, in order to create a persona that exemplifies more than just an “elite racing” program. The Board and staff are particularly excited about our newest program, Off-Road Handcycling, which has tremendous potential shed an even brighter spotlight on integrated cycling.
We are excited about the future of handcycling in the United States, and we hope you are too!
