VASU SOJITRA: Adapting, Dreaming and Finding a Sense of Belonging

Today I am joined by activist, athlete, and adaptive downhill skier Vasu Sojitra. 

When Vasu was just 9 months old he was diagnosed with septasimia, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg. Growing up in India and then the US, Vasu spent his teenage years with low confidence, often wishing he was somebody else, or in his words, a normal kid. In the 5th grade he started skiing, and with it he found a sense of purpose and belonging. Gripped by the adrenaline, power, and rush this avenue had given him, Vasu went from strength to strength and after graduating from a Mechanical Engineering Degree at the University of Vermont, he set out to build a more diverse platform in the adaptive sports world. 

Vasu’s twenties were incredibly formative not only for his development as an athlete, but also in challenging the biases that come with being a disabled person of colour. His film ‘Out on a Limb’ was picked up by several film festivals and inspired many to consider the setbacks in their own lives. It was a particular defining moment as Vasu began to gain more traction and started building relationships with brands and networking. He went on to become the first adaptive athlete for The North Face, is a Founding Member for The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E Initiative, and the Inclusive Outdoors Project and is also a Disabilty Access Strategist for the Avarna Group. 

Vasu’s determination to provide a visible platform to elevate and celebrate others in marginalised communities is truly inspiring. He once said ‘Diversity is all of us. Inclusion is being invited to the party and equity is being asked to dance’.

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