FOR VETERANS BY VETERANS.
FOR VETERANS BY VETERANS.
We are helping veterans with
PTSD & Traumatic Brain Injuries
heal through skiing and snowboarding.
The Aspen Elevation Institute harnesses the transformative power of nature, movement, and community to elevate human potential.
Rooted in the Rocky Mountains and inspired by the resilience of those who serve, we deliver evidence-based, adventure-driven programs that promote healing, growth, and connection for those seeking renewal.
Mission
What makes skiing and snowboarding uniquely therapeutic?
Skiing and snowboarding are not just “outdoor activities” — they are multisensory, high-engagement, neurobiologically active therapeutic environments. No other sport places a participant in a dynamic, cold-weather, gravity-driven, rhythm-based flow state that simultaneously activates trauma recovery mechanisms across the brain, body, and social system. For veterans — especially those living with PTSD, TBI, anxiety, depression, chronic hypervigilance, or isolation — these sports uniquely align with what neuroscience and VA policy increasingly recognize as critical ingredients for healing.
This is exactly why the Aspen One Veterans Therapy Program (AVTP) has chosen skiing and snowboarding as its core therapeutic modalities.
Community and Belonging
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Post-Traumatic Growth
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Flow-State Healing
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Community and Belonging 〰️ Post-Traumatic Growth 〰️ Flow-State Healing 〰️
Matt’s Story
Matt Zeller is a combat veteran who found healing where clinics couldn’t deliver it — in the mountains. After years of PTSD and traumatic brain injury, skiing restored his calm, clarity, and sense of self. He founded the Aspen Elevation Institute to give other veterans that same path back to themselves.
