50 Sports in 50 Weeks

The last day on the mountain felt less like an ending and more like a celebration. ⛷️🇨🇱
After the skiing was done, we came together for dinner, music, plenty of stories, and a lot of laughter.

There were memories shared from the week, moments we will never forget, and a deep sense of gratitude for the people who made it all possible.
And yes, maybe even one or two tears.

Because some experiences do not just become part of a documentary.
They become part of you.

Our time at Ski Portillo with Andes Mágico was one of those experiences.

For anyone who is scared to try, remember this:
Courage does not mean you are not afraid.
Courage is standing at the top of the mountain, feeling the fear, and still choosing to begin.
At Ski Portillo, we saw people face challenges most of us could never imagine, and still find the strength to move, trust, laugh and try.

You do not have to be fearless.
You just have to start.
Because sometimes the moment you are most afraid of becomes the moment that changes everything.

Back when we met Nicolás Bisquertt at Ski Portillo,
he was still near the beginning of his journey.

We were there filming 50 Sports in 50 Weeks with Andes Mágico, watching the magic of adaptive skiing and meeting people who were proving what sport can do.

Years later, Nicolás has become one of Chile’s great Paralympic winter athletes.
From those early days on the snow to representing Chile on the world stage, his story is a reminder that sometimes you meet someone before the world knows how far they are going to go.

What a privilege to have crossed paths with him at the start. 🇨🇱⛷️

Week 46 of 50 — Adaptive Skiing in Portillo, Chile 🇨🇱⛷️
This week, the Browns travel high into the Andes for one of the most powerful and emotional experiences of the 50 Sports in 50 Weeks journey.

With Fundacion Andes Magico Chile we discover how adaptive skiing gives children and adults with disabilities the chance to feel the snow, the mountains, the speed, and the freedom of sport.

Mario Mágico Ski Portillo Chile

SPORT WITHOUT LIMITS | 50 Sports in 50 Weeks Week 46 of 50 — Adaptive Skiing in Portillo, Chile 🇨🇱⛷️This week, ...

Since 1999, Fundacion Andes Magico Chile has been proving that the mountains can belong to everyone. 🇨🇱⛷️

Their program at Ski Portillo Chile gives people with disabilities the chance to experience adaptive skiing with the support of trained instructors, volunteers and specialised equipment.

From children as young as 8 to young people and adults, the goal is simple but powerful: inclusion, confidence, adventure and joy.

For us, filming 50 Sports in 50 Weeks, this was one of those moments where the numbers mattered less than the smiles.

More than 25 years of making the impossible feel possible.
That is real magic.

At first glance, it is just a few people sitting on a ski lift. ⛷️😂

But really, this is the moment when everyone starts pretending they are totally relaxed… while quietly hoping they remember how to get off at the top.

With Andes Mágico at Ski Portillo, even the lift ride became part of the adventure.
There were smiles, nerves, jokes, big views, and probably at least one person thinking:
“Going up was easy… now we just have to come back down.”

And that is where the magic begins. 🇨🇱

Sport #46 — Adaptive Skiing at Ski Portillo, Chile. 🇨🇱⛷️

But this week was not about us learning a new sport.
It was about witnessing the magic of Andes Mágico: children, young people and adults with disabilities being given the chance to experience skiing, the snow, the mountain and the freedom of movement.

Some could not see. Some could not walk. Some lived with mental disabilities. But through adaptive skiing, patient instructors, trust, courage and support, we saw smiles that said more than words ever could.

We came to help as much as we could, but we left with one of the biggest lessons of our whole journey:
When you see people facing real challenges flying down a mountain with joy on their faces, it becomes very hard to believe anyone has an excuse not to move, not to try, and not to be active.

This was not just sport. This was sport at its most powerful.

Sport #45 is done — Wrestling in Santiago, Chile. 🇨🇱🤼

A huge thank you to everyone who made this experience so special.
Thank you to Andrés Ayub for being such an incredible mentor, and to Tasmania Acosta and Diego Perez for your time, support, patience and kindness.
You welcomed us, taught us, challenged us and gave us a much deeper appreciation for wrestling.

These experiences only happen because generous people are willing to share their sport, their knowledge and their passion with our family.
We are truly grateful to each and every one of you. 🧡