S2F & French Ski Schools help make ski holidays a reality for children & adults with a disability or special need
Skiing, Snowboarding and the mountains really are accessible to everyone. Ski 2 Freedom Foundation and French Ski Schools help make ski holidays a reality for children and adults with a disability or special need. Taking a child with a disability or special need on a family ski holiday can be a difficult undertaking. Often it is a time when an agonising decision has to be made – Do we leave our child behind or do we just not go skiing anymore? For one family, whose youngest son is disabled, it was unthinkable to go back to Les Gets with the rest of the children and leave Hugo behind which meant that the family ski holiday had come to an end. Happily his parents met an ESF Les Gets ski instructor who dismissed the idea that Hugo could not learn to ski despite his disability.
At the end of this totally inclusive family holiday Hugo says “People should believe that their children can do anything. My mum wasn't sure if I would walk, but she believed in me, and so did my dad and now I can ski!! When I am alone and all by myself sometimes I think I am unlucky, but then I think that at least I can ski so maybe I am lucky. For people who may have already experienced the exhilaration of the ski slopes and have developed a life changing illness such as MS or have had to have one or more limbs removed due to cancer, an accident or as is now so sadly the case due to an anti-personal mine or enemy action in Afghanistan or Iraq then finding the confidence to go back can be a tough and at times difficult decision. But, as Ski 2 Freedom is discovering it is remarkable how, with the right information and guidance, self-esteem can be rediscovered and a whole new sense of confidence and fun achieved just by that person having access to information on the right ski instruction, equipment and resort which matches their specific and individual needs and requirements.
Jack Eyers aged 21 is a single leg amputee who discovered a totally new found freedom on the slopes of La Plagne last winter. With the help of Julien from Oxygene Ski School in La Plagne, he was skiing black runs on day 5 of his first week ever on snow. That might have been enough but not for Jack, who also took to the skies with a parapente and managed to drive a skidoo **“Thank you so much S 2 F for all your help, I had an amazing time!! I'm so glad I decided to use the outriggers. Thank you so much for sorting this out for me! This holiday has been a massive achievement for me”. Now all he needs each winter is his set of outriggers and a single ski – (NB anyone out there who happens to loose a ski don't throw the other away they are needed!!)
Ensuring that the Alps with their sparkling white ski slopes and the magic that appears to emanate from their very heart, to feel the gentle caress of the snowflakes, to hear the laughter of children and teenagers is something that should be experienced by everyone. School ski trips really can be totally inclusive as was discovered by a group of Special Needs children with severe learning difficulties from Hazel Oak School in Solihull who went in January 2010 on their first ski trip to Montgenèvre and with the excellent support of the ESF had a holiday of a lifetime. One of the school Governors Andrew Wilkins wrote after their ‘Ski Celebration evening': "It was lovely to see you all at the ski celebration this evening; what a wonderful occasion! In my opinion we should try to make it possible for this trip to be a regular thing. I realise of course that lots of money has to be found, and that we must avoid putting parents under undue pressure with it, however if it can possibly be done I think we should attempt this. The atmosphere this evening and the looks on the sparkling faces of all those youngsters said it all for me. You made a great point to me about the value of these trips and it's clear that everyone is bubbling over with enthusiasm for them.” Amanda Jones, the Head Teacher, says that “As in all schools we work very hard to make a difference to our children's lives both academically and socially. We try to equip them for the world ahead, offering structured challenge and support. We are very proud of these 12 students for their own personal achievements and for paving the way for other students like them. We are also tremendously grateful to Catherine for her help, support and encouragement, without which we would not have had such a successful trip. We also hope it is the start of a long and happy relationship with Ski2Freedom.”
The Director of Ski 2 Freedom joined the school in Montgenèvre whilst assessing the resort and saw for herself the remarkable progress made by the pupils and the dedicated instruction which was given by the staff of the ESF Montgenèvre. The school are sending a group in 2011 and places have been highly sought after! So how can you or someone you know benefit from the same experiences? France probably has a greater concentration of ski schools, independent guides, instructors and organisations dedicated to handiski than anywhere else in Europe. A range of specialist equipment and excellent teaching can be found in more than 130 ski schools which offer some type of snow-sport or non-skiing activity for guests with disabilities and special needs, as well as many independent ski instructors. On-piste, off-piste, heli-skiing, ski touring and much more – in fact any snow-sport or mountain activity undertaken by an able-bodied person is possible by a disabled person given the right equipment and instruction. To help find the right ski school, instructor and/or equipment Ski 2 Freedom, an independent and international not-for-profit organization provides comprehensive resource of information on snow-sport and mountain activities tailored to meet the specific needs and requirements of people with a disability or special need so that they, their carers, medical supervisors, family or friends can have an independent choice of location and activity. Once a ski school or resort is identified the Foundation is able to sign-post individuals and groups towards the organisations which will help bring together all the components required for someone to experience the ultimate joy of being in the mountains in winter.
Contact Information:
Ski 2 Freedom
ESF Les Gets www.esf-lesgets.com
ESF Montgenèvre www.esf-montgenevre.com
Oxygene La Plagne www.oxygene.ski/