Devon Raney
Five years ago, lifelong snowboarder Devon Raney suffered vision loss due to a rare genetic disorder. Amidst the turmoil, one thing remained constant: snowboarding. Devon is now living the life of which he always dreamed with his wife, Becca and daughter, Madrona—it’s just not how he expected to get there. Devon Raney, vision loss, and the healing power of snowboarding.
It takes a second for the crowd to notice as I drop into the middle of the 2012 Dirksen Derby course at Mt Bachelor, OR. Hooking into the pump bumps before the first turn, the nose of Devon Raney’s snowboard briefly taps against my tail, reminding me to go faster.
The 50 or 60 riders lining the fence erupt into cheers—they get it now. This is Devon’s race run. I’m merely a visual aid, my bright green jacket serving as a kind of rabbit for Devon to chase. Although he is legally blind, Devon still retains some of his peripheral vision, and if I exaggerate my movements a little and shout when jumps are coming, he can easily follow behind.
The first turn is a right-hand sweeper, heelside for me and toeside for Devon. He is on edge, accelerating through the corner as I try to setup for a quick left without slowing him down. He exhibits the edge control of a seasoned rider, and if it weren’t for my presence on course, you’d have a hard time knowing he is navigating more by feel than sight…