Have You Seen This? Shaun White shreds with amputee snowboarder in Park City

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

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SHREDDING THE MOUNTAIN — Zach Sherman thought he was meeting his coach at a Park City ski and snowboard resort for a day in fresh powder.

What he got was a dream come true.

The adaptive snowboarder from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was surprised by five-time Olympian Shaun White at Woodward Park City, where the three-time gold medalist who recently retired from the pro game spent the day on the slopes of Utah.

At the bottom of one halfpipe run, White reached into his pocket and pulled out a check, presenting Sherman with a grant from the Challenger Athletes Foundation that covers coaching, travel and training expenses so that Sherman can compete on the adaptive snowboard circuit.

Sherman was an avid snowboarder growing up, but the red-headed adaptive snowboarder lost both legs and an arm in a life-threatening motorcycle accident in 2010, according to a news release from CAF. He claims the sport helped save his life, from stepping out of a wheelchair, establishing mobility using special prosthetic legs, and living an independent life that includes snowboarding both recreationally and competitively.

"It's one of the few things I can still do and feel like I'm an equal person, if that makes sense," said Sherman, a 35 year old triple who has been snowboarding for over 20 years in a video produced by CAF. "On a snow hill, I can actually be faster than other people.

"Back on a snowboard, people have to keep up with me."

Adaptive snowboarder Zach Sherman was surprised by five-time Olympian Shaun White at Woodward Park City, where the three-time gold medalist who recently retired from the pro game spent the day on the slopes of Utah and presented Sherman with a grant to board competitively. (Photo: Sean Ryan via Challenged Athletes Foundation)

Over the past 12 years, Sherman hasn't let his amputee status get in the way of his love of snowboarding, flying down the mountain on modified prostheses attached to his board. Thanks to the grant awarded by White and the CAF, he can go even farther.

"It was an amazing morning on the mountain meeting Zach," said White, the 35-year-old X Games star who earned the nickname "Flying Tomato" for his aerial tricks and trademark red locks. "He is such an inspiration to everybody. I was thrilled to play a small part in his journey with adaptive snowboarding and help support the mission of CAF to provide opportunities and access to sports for people with physical challenges."

CAF plans to distribute over 3,000 grants to individuals around the world to help cover adaptive sports equipment, training and competition expenses, because "everyone should have access to sports," the association says in a news release.

That includes a five-time Olympic snowboarder — and his new halfpipe buddy on a Park City resort.

Listen to Sherman's story in the video above or on YouTube here.