Kate Delson: "I never felt held back by my disability on a snowboard"
Delson says she is “stoked to be there” at Milano Cortina 2026 and cannot wait to enjoy the moments of her first Games 23 Feb 2026
Kate Delson is one of the bright new talents in Para snowboard and set to make her Paralympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026.
With less than two weeks to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, the 20-year-old Team USA athlete, who is described by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation as the "New kid on the block", is excited to enjoy every moment of the Games.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 6-15 March, featuring up to 665 athletes competing in six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.
Freedom on the snowboard
The San Diego, California native was born with her disability, missing most of the muscles in her right leg. She initially started skiing at three years old but found it difficult to continue, deciding to take up snowboarding as it was a passion within her family.
She says she fell in love with snowboarding and the sport proved to be a perfect match for her.
“That freedom I felt on my snowboard with my two feet working together was just perfect for me,” she said.
“I never felt held back by my disability on a snowboard, it was the one sport that just felt so good and I was so determined to get better at it.
“The better I get, the more fun it becomes.”
Her journey into Para sport did not start immediately. She initially got into competitive snowboarding at a local level as a part of the Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team, competing against people without disabilities.
“It was always in the back of my mind that Paralympic snowboarding existed.”
During her last year in high school, it dawned on her that she had to decide if she wanted to make a career out of snowboarding, something which she gladly committed to.
She soon competed in her first Para snowboard competition at the USASA Nationals in Colorado. Following this, she was able to make the connections she needed to start her pathway into the Para sport.
Change Starts with Sport
Delson has experienced the power of Para sport since she started competing. She captured two World Cup victories during the 2024-2025 season, her debut on the circuit.
“I’m grateful that Paralympic sport exists so I can compete at the world level. It was never even a dream that I could do this because I always let my disability hold me back in my mind.”
After graduating, she relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah (the home of the 2034 Winter Paralympics). So far, she has spent three winters in the city and has been living there full-time for over a year whilst training with Team Utah.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned through progressing is as I’ve gotten better, I’ve realised how much more I can learn and that just excites me.”
Road to Milano Cortina 2026
Milano Cortina 2026 will be a huge event for Delson as it is her Paralympic debut. She is “stoked to be there” and cannot wait to enjoy the moments of her first Games.
She has been working hard and preparing tirelessly for these Games. In May 2025, she was nominated for the national team which was a gateway to more resources for her. This past year has been the most intense training she has been a part of, a mix of national and international training camps and competitions has led her to seeing some of her biggest improvements on the board.
“I really want to go into the Paralympic Games with no expectations. That’s a lot easier said than done, I’ve been doing everything I can to ride my best and I’m confident that if keep up this trajectory, it will result in a podium finish.”
Aside from being an elite athlete, she also has a seasonal part-time job working as an Adaptive Recreational Instructor at the National Ability Center in Salt Lake City. She often works there in the winter but couldn’t this year due to the competition schedule, but in the summer, she worked there in between training.
She shows children a variety of disabilities how to play several sports, with snowboarding being her favourite to teach.
This gives back to the younger generation and hopefully creates a starting point for Paralympians of the future.
Increasing the visibility of the sport is an important topic at the heart of many athletes, this is no different for Delson who spoke about her hopes for the sport in the future. The coming years will be landmark time for the USA and Paralympic sport, with not only the LA28 Paralympic Games, but also Utah 2034 Paralympic Winter Games.
“The biggest thing I’m hoping for in the sport is the Para snowboard and Para alpine skiing World Cups being livestreamed because I have so much fun watching and it would be so cool for people to watch because it’s such a blast.”
Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.
For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org
