The Saskatchewan Adaptive Snow Ski Club (SASSC) will be making skiing more accessible at Table Mountain Regional Park this month.
The SASSC will be bringing adaptive and para-alpine skiing to the ski hill on January 13 and January 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those with disabilities to try the sport.
Jaimie Smith-Windsor, President of the SASSC and parent with the club says the sport being accessible is a great way to keep those with disabilities active in the winter.
“A lot of our club members first got introduced to adaptive and para-skiing by just looking for opportunities for their kids to experience something different and become more physically active. There really isn’t anything quite as fun as skiing,” says Smith-Windsor.
Smith-Windsor says the club is aiming to raise awareness and introduce more potential skiers to the sport.
New skiers will start off at the bunny hill with access to experienced instructors who are certified through the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS).
Once skiers are comfortable they’ll be introduced to the chairlift and the green runs on Table Mountain. Smith-Windsor says that it’s often a great experience for disabled people of all ages.
“It’s an absolute hoot. You can see the smiles and hear kids laughing and having a hoot. When someone realizes they can participate in this sport, it’s quite a liberating feeling. It’s very empowering.”
Smith-Windsor adds that the club is very capable of accommodating those with a variety of disabilities.
“Whether they’re physical disabilities, amputations, neuro-motor issues, balance issues. We haven’t run into a situation where we haven’t been able to get someone out on the hill, so we’re up for making the adaptations that are necessary for people to get out experiencing adaptive and para-skiing.”
Those willing to participate just have to register with the club by contacting [email protected] or calling (306) 960-1963 for the price of $20 per skier.
The club is also planning for adaptive and para-skiing trips in February and March but has no set dates for them yet.
