One of South Dakota’s own is competing for a spot in the 2026 Winter Paralympics. Since 2019, para snowboarder Dennae Russell has been competing in boardercross and banked slalom and this year may be her biggest yet as she fights for a place on the 2026 USA Paralympic Team.
"Banked slalom is a course full of banked turns. Sounds simple enough, but if your timing gets off or you take the wrong line, you're gonna end up in the safety netting," explained Russell. "And boardercross starts off with basically a pump track. Then you go into the rest of the course, which is jumps, rollers, turns. And you're riding with four people on the course at the same time. So it can get a little wild."
Russell grew up snowboarding on the slopes of Terry Peak in Lead. Following a cancer diagnosis in 2013, she underwent an above-the-knee leg amputation. But her battle with cancer didn’t stop her from pursuing the sport she loves.
"Snowboarding is so freeing for me," said Russell. "When I get fully strapped in and go down the mountain, my heart is at ease, my soul is filled with peace. It just feels so natural. It makes me emotional thinking about how blessed I am to have this opportunity to do what I do. It's what makes my heart happiest."
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games are taking place in Italy this March. To earn a spot at the games, Russell needs to successfully compete on the World Cup Circuit taking place across Europe, Canada and the U.S.
"There is already one spot filled for the women's LL1, which is the category I’m in as an above-the-knee amputee," said Russell. "And there's one spot left to fill. So I'm just fighting for that spot."
"It's definitely motivating to keep working out every day," she continued. "And going to all the training, working hard and taking advantage of every second we have on snow."
Adding even more to the challenge, Russell says the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has chosen to combine the women's LL1 and LL2 snowboarding competitions. Athletes in the LL1 category have a greater degree of impairment, such as an above-the-knee amputation like Russell has. Athletes in the LL2 category have a lesser degree of impairment.
That means Russell and other women in her category must compete with athletes who are more able-bodied. She says the IPC's decision stems from not having a consistent number of competitors in the past, which is no longer the case.
"We have enough athletes to have our own category. But they won't make the decision to split us back up until next year at World Championships," said Russell. "So, for the last four years, we've just had to compete combined, which can really mess up our points. If we would have been separated, I likely would have had enough points to be on the U.S. team."
Even as more women break into the sport, Russell says the combined categories is a barrier to new athletes because they don't feel as competitive racing against people who are more able-bodied.
"When athletes invest significant resources financially, physically and emotionally into their training, travel and competition, it can be discouraging to have critical decisions made by individuals who are far removed from the realities of our sport," said Russell. "Many decisionmakers aren’t present at our races and don’t see the work we put in, in and out, of competition. Instead, judgments are often based solely on what appears on paper, and those choices have meaningful impacts on all of us."
Although she's frustrated by it, Russell says the decision to combine categories has only motivated her to work harder. Afterall, she's no stranger to pushing through adversity.
"I feel like from the very start of this journey, it's been a constant fight. I'm just in the mindset of no matter what gets thrown my way, I'm going to adapt and overcome," said Russell. "So, I'm thankful that it's been hard because it's made me so strong."
Currently, Russell trains and competes on Team Utah, which is also called SBSEF for Snowbird Sports Education Foundation. Russell says the support and accountability she receives from her teammates has been key to her success as an athlete.
"We have really become a family over the years," said Russell. "Even though it's not a team sport, we are always supporting each other on and off the snow.
"And we are competitive, but at the end of the day we're all trying our best and we all just continue to cheer each other on through the good and the bad," she continued.
Overall, the community she's built through para snowboarding has had a significant impact on Russell's life that goes beyond her athletic career.
"I’ve honestly learned so much being able to compete with other amputees," said Russell. "Before I got into the sport, I didn't know what was normal and not normal with my prosthetics and what they were supposed to be like or not be like. And I've learned so much on the prosthetic side, but also on the physical and mental side of things. That it is something that I'm eternally grateful for."
Another piece of the journey Russell is thankful for is the financial support she’s received from supporters to help with the steep cost of competing at her level. In recent years, many Paralympic and Olympic athletes alike have spoken out about the financial burden required to succeed in their sport.
In particular, Paralympic athletes face limited sponsorship opportunities and additional costs for prosthetics and customized sports equipment. According to Russell, a single competition season can easily cost her between $30,000 and $40,000.
"No matter how much I work in the off season, I can't afford that," said Russell. "So it's incredibly amazing that people have been supporting me through this for the last four years."
"All of this is so much more than just me being a snowboarder," she continued. "It just continues to evolve and gain more meaning. The fact that people want to support me is mind blowing. So many people believe in what I am doing and that is really what keeps me going during the hard times."
Russell’s first competition of the season was in the Netherlands in November. Next up she’ll travel to Austria, Switzerland and Canada before returning stateside to compete at Steamboat in February.
"The gratitude I feel to have this opportunity in my life is overwhelming in the best way," said Russell. "I am doing what I love. I am showing people that anything is possible. I’m letting people who have a disability know that it doesn’t have to be a death sentence and you don’t have to be held back by it. I am being a positive role model for my niece and nephews. Life can still be great and there are so many possibilities."
