Watch The 2018 Angel City Sports Holiday Celebration Event Recap

Angel City Sports held its first annual Holiday Event in Celebration of the year in adaptive sports with a night of food, drink and live music. The Event was held at IMAX Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. The hosts for the evening were US Paralympian Mike Shea (Snowboarding), Taylor Lipsett (Sled Hockey), Mallory Weggemann (Swimming). Mike represented Team USA in Snowboarding at the 2018 Paralympic Games in PyeongChang. Taylor has competed in multiple Paralympic Games, twice winning Gold with the USA Sled Hockey team, and was a broadcaster at the 2018 Games. Mallory has competed in two Paralympic Games for Team USA and is a Gold Medalist in Swimming.

Also in attendance were Mario Rodriguez (4x Paralympian, Fencing); Mallory Weggemann (2x Paralympian, 2x Medalist (gold, bronze), Swimming); Mike Shea (2x Paralympian, Silver Medalist, Snowboarding); Taylor Lipsett (3x Paralympian, 3x Medalist (2x gold, bronze) Sled Hockey); Candace Cable (9x Paralympian, 12x medalist (8 gold); Track and Field, Alpine and Nordic Skiing); Jerome Avery (4x Paralympian, 1x Gold Medalist, Track and Field); Lex Gillette (4x Paralympian, 4x medalist (silver); Track and Field); Taylor Ritzel (1x Olympian; 1x medalist (gold); rowing); Derrik Adkins (1x Olympian, 1x medalist (gold), track and field); Mark Crear (2x Olympian, 2x medalist (silver, bronze), track and field); Jamie Nieto (2x Olympian; high jump); John Moffet (1x Olympian, Swimming); Eileen Grubba, Actress(Sons of Anarchy, Hung), and Disability Advocate); Kevin Sizemore, Actor (Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462, Resurrection); Gunnar Sizemore, Actor (Kung Fu Panda: Paws of Destiny); Isaiah Pead – Former NFL Player; Isa Abdul-Quddus – Former NFL Player; Bahar Soomekh, Actress (Crash, Mission Impossible III, Saw III and IV) and Disability Advocate; and Tracy Murray (NBA Champion, TV Analyst)

ACS 2018 Holiday Party Photo credit: Niki Cram

Angel City Sports also hosted the theatrical premiere of Empty Net, a documentary showcasing the 2018 Gold Medal Winning USA Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, which screened in the main IMAX theater. Following the premiere, guests enjoyed a courtyard reception with drinks, dinner, and a live performance by special musical guest Victoria Canal to honor the incredible community of athletes. Victoria is an adaptive piano player/singer-songwriter who was born with one arm due to Amniotic Band Syndrome. In her own words, Victoria has “made it her mission to help people understand that everyone is born differently. To embrace those differences is to know our greatest strengths.”

Victoria Canal performing music for Angel City Sports Holiday Celebration Photo credit: Niki Cram

Angel City Sports began in June 2013, and was founded by Clayton and Ezra Frech. In October 2014, they found a facility and programming partner in UCLA Recreation and set about to create a one-of-a-kind competition and event experience for youth and adults with physical disabilities. The first Angel City Games in June 2015 were tremendously successful, with 150 athletes participating in Track & Field and Wheelchair Basketball clinics and competition. Over 1,300 attendees came through over the 2 day event. The first Angel City Games exceeded expectations and were a huge hit with families, volunteers, sponsors, partners and celebrities. Today they offer a year-round schedule of introductory adaptive sport clinics, giving athletes opportunities to participate, learn and train in a variety of sports.