Family Ski Holiday Morzine: Skiing with Down's Syndrome

Jacob Howes continues to love his skiing and inclusive family ski holiday!!

The Howes family have been having an inclusive and accessible family ski holiday with the help of ESF Morzine for many years. Jacob is a charming young man who was born with Down’s Syndrome but each winter re-discovers his love of skiing!!

February 2020 found Jacob being taken around the ski slopes of the Portes du Soleil in a Tessier guided sit-ski by ESF Morzine’s adaptive ski instructor Romain. This ski was donated to ESF Morzine as a result of donations made to Ski 2 Freedom resulting from a 40th Birthday Party and wedding guests being asked to donate rather than give presents.

His mother wrote back to us with her report of the holiday:

*Hi Catherine, We have just returned from a great week’s skiing in the Portes du Soleil - what a difference being outside the school holidays! It was so much more tolerable. Jacob’s handiski sessions were all on the newly donated Ski 2 Freedom sit-ski - it was SOOOO much better than the tandem ski, much smoother and much more comfortable for him all round. His moniteur was Romain, who you may or may not know, but he was lovely and so solicitous to make sure that Jacob was comfortable and having fun.

Our last afternoon on the Friday, Romain offered us a 3 hour session instead of 2 hours because we had missed two afternoons for bad weather. Tigrou then showed up and skied with us all too - can you imagine, two ESF moniteurs all to ourselves! It was amazing. Made us feel very special (well we have Jake to thank for that!). We even had time to stop for a drink (Mark and I needed the rest!!!).
Jacob also had a brilliant companion for when he was not skiing from Alpine Resort Nannies who was great and meant that I also had a bit of respite time. So all in all, we are very happy.

And so, we have decided that we think we will carry on going back there as it is a formula that we know and which works for us. So thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas on other resorts but Morzine does feel like ‘home’ to us all especially Jacob.
We have asked to have the sit-ski again next year, and also Romain - it meant Jacob had to work harder at his communication and whilst he might love the speed at which Tigrou travels, we think he had a less bumpy ride with Romain! *

Ski 2 Freedom enriches the quality of life for children and adults with life-changing conditions through empowering year-round mountain experiences including snow-sports. We support anyone affected by a physical, neurological, sensory, mental health, or other life-changing, life-limiting health or medical condition.

Anyone who contacts Ski 2 Freedom for advice on where to have an all inclusive and accessible ski holiday is directed to our umbrella non-profit Mountains 4 All where Catherine Cosby, founder of Ski 2 Freedom, carries on the amazing work of promoting the life-changing and empowering benefits of mountain activities especially in the winter.

http://www.esf-morzing.com

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