Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding

Meeting the Needs of Skiers with Special Needs

Adaptive sports programs give skiers of all abilities the edge both on and off the slopes

by Mimi Wacholder

Christopher Williamson is an expert skier and ski instructor, or “slider leader,” at Windham in the Catskills. He began skiing as a youth 16 years ago, having fallen in love with the sport during a lesson at the very same mountain. What remains unique about that lesson is that it was part of the adaptive sports program, and what is unique about Chris is that he has Down Syndrome.

The Adaptive Sports Foundation, based at Windham Mountain, is recognized as one of the leading adaptive sport programs in the country, offering mountain sports such as skiing and snowboarding to people with special needs.

During the 2001-2002 season, this nonprofit organization offered more than 2,400 lessons to individuals with mental and physical disabilities. On busy weekends, that means as many as 30 to 40 lessons per day, requiring sometimes up to five volunteer instructors per student. Because of the tremendous pool of 160 highly trained volunteer instructors and the more than $500,000 in annual fund-raising for equipment and operating costs, students incur only about one-quarter of the actual costs of running the program.

The foundation serves disabled persons like Melanie Luebs, a 4-year-old ski student who is paraplegic from acute transverse myelitis that struck her at the age of 2. When her spinal cord was attacked, she went from walking to crawling; today she is a skier. Frank Natasi also took advantage of the offerings of the program. He is a 70-year-old who is blind, diabetic and a right-leg amputee. Last season Frank tried skiing for the first time.

The disabilities of the students range from relatively mild, such as learning disabled, to those more involved, such as quadriplegia and cerebral palsy.

Gwen Allard, president and executive director of the Adaptive Sports Foundation, has nurtured the program from its infancy in 1984. The mission: To provide all seasons sport and recreational activities for physically and mentally challenged individuals in a mountain environment to increase their self-esteem, independence and potential, leading to better health and a full productive life within their families and communities.

Allard comments, “A combination of attitude, opportunity and encouragement is all a person with special needs requires to be successful in sports.” In addition to her accomplishments with the foundation, Allard’s pioneering work in the adaptive skiing field also has earned her the position of adaptive coordinator for Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA).

Frank Williamson, father of Christopher, volunteer instructor and Adaptive Sports Foundation education and training director, joined the team after seeing what an impact skiing has made on the life of his son. “Students who rise to the challenge of skiing and go for it, succeed. It is then impossible for this accomplishment and success not to carry into regular, daily life for these students,” he says. “I have seen the difference firsthand with Chris, who is now a volunteer instructor himself.”

Unlike many sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer and other team sports, skiing and snowboarding don’t require an understanding of the rules or a keeping of score. It simply can be enjoyed by all, no matter the ability or disability. A student, Francoise Gavigan, says about her experience, “When I was skiing, I forgot that someone was connected to me. I didn’t feel connected, I felt free! Being someone living with a head injury, I can fully appreciate this return to independence. The program removes all barriers. This (skiing) is the first thing I have become really excited about in a long time.”

According to the staff, the testimonials of the students are endlessly positive and exhilarating. Each student who takes on the challenge is a success story; however, volunteers also seem to reap the rewards. “No matter how much people think we give the foundation, we, the volunteer instructors, get so much more back in return. During my first year as an instructor, I had a paraplegic skier in a mono ski (a bucket seat with a single ski mounted at the base). As we were skiing to the lift, several people gave him the thumbs up sign, and Pete, my skier, gave it right back to them — that’s what the programs are all about,” remarks Jon Mehlman, a volunteer instructor.

Another tremendous environment that provides participants a chance to enjoy the thrill of adaptive skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and even cross-country skiing is the Double “H” Hole in the Woods Ranch, located in Lake Luzurne. This program is designed specifically for children and the winter program accommodates children with physical disabilities as well as those who have been diagnosed with diseases such as cancer, leukemia, sickle-cell anemia, hemophilia, HIV/AIDS or neuromuscular impairment. The private mountain setting offers trained volunteer instructors with a 1:1 and sometimes 1:2 skier to instructor ratio, special adaptive equipment and is completely free of charge.

Eileen Nash, director of development for Double “H” Hole in the Woods Ranch says, “The ranch is one of those magical places where children are encouraged to be kids — and become greater people because of it. It is an environment where children who may feel isolated and alone due to their differences can come to feel good about themselves. They participate free of embarrassment and learn to be proud of who they are and what they have accomplished. Our skiers make friends and realize that being different is not bad. Most importantly, they take these experiences home with them and apply them to their daily lives.”

STRIDE (Sports and Therapeutic Recreation Instruction/Developmental Education) based in Rensselaer, was founded in 1986 by now CEO Mary Ellen Whitney. As an adaptive physical education teacher with Questar III BOCES, Whitney did extensive research in the field of skiing and wanted to bring new opportunities to her students.

STRIDE is a not-for-profit organization that through contributions, fund-raising, grants and volunteer efforts is able to offer programs to students ages 5 through 21 free of charge. Lessons and ski and snowboard adaptive equipment are offered at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA, and Catamount in Hillsdale.

Greek Peak, located in Virgil (near Cortland, NY), offers the Greek Peak Sports for the Disabled accommodating students from 6 to 60 years of age with hearing impairments, visual impairments, amputations, developmental disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy and partial paralysis.

The Greek Peak program includes a lift ticket for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and mono-skiing; adaptive equipment rental; and a personal instructor for the day. It costs $15.

Each and every student and story is awe-inspiring and the immediate area offers a wealth of opportunities in adaptive skiing and snowboarding. In addition to the programs mentioned, a host of other regional ski areas offer adaptive ski school opportunities including Whiteface, Gore, Willard, Hunter, Okemo, Bromley and more.

These nonprofit organizations are always actively fund raising and looking for volunteers. To participate, take the initiative to contact them directly and ask what you can do financially or with your time and skills to make a difference.

Additionally, when the snow melts, the sports and programs continue with all kinds of additional programs and opportunities including horseback, fly fishing, canoe, kayaking, swimming and sailing to name a few.

This region is truly a treasure for the sport enthusiast of any level and ability and certainly a tremendous resource with the growing adaptive sports opportunities.

Mimi Wacholder (wacholder@adelphia.net) resides in Lake Placid, where she works as a freelance writer, marketing consultant, yoga instructor and figure skating choreographer. She enjoys hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, triathlon and everything about the Adirondacks.

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