DSUK: Changing perceptions and transforming lives

FEBRUARY saw Disability Snowsport UK unveil two fantastic new videos showcasing how the snowsport lifestyle can transform people’s lives.

The first of the videos focuses on adaptive skiing with participants Colin and Emily. Both excellent skiers, they have cerebral palsy and other diagnoses which make some people believe that skiing isn’t possible for them. This great new video proves otherwise. Supported by their instructor, they turn the sit-ski by tilting their head. This movement shifts the weight and turns the ski, whilst their guide keeps them upright.

DSUK’s second video, again produced in collaboration with Holmlands, looks at adaptive skiing with Graeme, Cheryl and Thomas - all independent skiers who use very different adaptations. Cheryl was born with a visual impairment and benefits from a guide. Graeme uses a Monoski after being involved in a road traffic accident, and Thomas is a stand-up skier who benefits from tailored lessons that allow for his autism and epilepsy.

CEO Mark Kelvin explained how DSUK’s work across the country helps many others by bringing freedom and independence to their lives.

He told Agility: “We offer adaptive lessons all year round – people come for an initial assessment or a lesson and work with one of our specialist instructors. They then work towards a specific outcome – they have very different outcomes and different barriers to achieving that. We’ll work with anybody with any disability towards whichever outcome that may be.

“For some people it’s about rehabilitation following an injury, so building up their muscular-skeletal strength and coordination. For others it’s about being the best skier they can be. We use the skilled staff and specialist knowledge that we have to get them up to a standard where they can then ski without us and won’t get caught in an expensive lesson trap.”

Outlining the benefits of skiing to disabled people, Mark continued: “There’s a real thrill and a rush with that wind against your face and that fear of falling.

“That can start to awaken something in people and help to unlock a new sense of self belief. It’s beyond a sport or physical activity benefit – it’s more the emotional and mental wellbeing that comes with that.

“A big part of snowsport is Apres ski, so bringing in that social network is a key factor, and something we do through our holidays and trips abroad. Whatever happens on the mountain is great but everything that happens off the mountain is equally important.

“If people get to a point where they can ski quite confidently and competently with DSUK we’ve then got a brilliant network of volunteers across the country who run local recreation groups. They use our equipment because they know it’s safe and maintained, and we will work with the volunteers to support them and help them progress with their adaptive qualifications.”

DSUK have a range of other aims and aspirations to focus on going forward. “We’re working on increasing the variety and accessibility of snowsport,” said Mark. “That includes opening new locations across the UK for that immediate access and creating more local groups for more regular recreational skiing.

“We’re also increasing the variety of trips abroad that we offer, and we’re looking at access to snowboarding. There’s adaptive kit becoming available for snowboarders or aspiring snowboarders, so we have a commitment within our three-year strategy to be able to deliver snowboarding wherever we deliver skiing. That’s another great area of opportunity for us to explore.”

Find out more about DSUK’s initiatives at www. disabilitysnowsport.org.uk