Skiing in Klosters with Amputee Richard Heggie
Family ski holiday in Klosters (Suisse) is proving to be a memorable time for Richard, single leg amputee, and his family!
Having one leg amputated can be a challenge to skiing – but with many alternative ways of whizzing down the ski slopes, Richard found one that suited him - learning to be independent and ski with a mono-ski.
Last weekend found Richard skiing in the beautiful Graudünden village of Klosters. With the help of specialist ski instructor, Michi, from Swiss Ski & Snowboard School Saas im Prättigau and a sit-ski, this was an exciting new experience which is proving extremely successful!
As Richard told Catherine at Ski 2 Freedom: *“It has gone really well in Klosters!! Sadly Michi was only available for three days so I have had a session each day with him. My sit ski was rented from Gotschnasport.
The pinnacle was doing the Madrisa home run on the last day, as you may know, this a red with some black bits included, altogether an epic few days! The rest of the week, until we leave on Thursday, will be exploring non-skiing experiences and thank you so much for your help with ideas. The Tourist Office have been very helpful and we’re we have just done the horse sleigh ride which was fabulous!”
I am so grateful for your help securing the equipment and setting me up with the guys at Saas ski school. I’ll be planning the next trip with a bit more notice, but I will definitely be back to Klosters!”*
Ski 2 Freedom
www.ski2freedom.com
E-Mail: catherine.cosby@mountains4all.org
Tel: +41 (0)76 4661417
FoundationSwiss Ski & Snowboard School Saas im Prättigau
Landstrasse 15
7252 Klosters Dorf
Tel: +41 (0)81 420 22 33
E-Mail: contact@sss-saas.ch
www.sss-saas.ch
www.gotschnasport.ch
Tel: +41 (0)81 422 1197
E-Mail: info@gotschnasport.ch
PT Ski
www.ptski.com
More insight into how Klosters is becoming a great inclusive and accessible winter resort:
The village has been welcoming winter guests for well over a 100 years and many are guests who perhaps will not be skiing but enjoying and taking time to relax in the beautiful and stunning mountain scenery to be found in this part of the Graudünden (Switzerland).
There are some lovely hotels to stay in – not all are fully wheel-chair accessible so each one will depend on individual needs. Probably suiting those with young children in a chair rather than an adult but if help is at hand then no problems at all. (We have had three full wheel-chair users from South Africa staying in Klosters to ski so it can be done!)
PT Ski is our associate partner in Klosters and no-one knows the resort and village as much as James and his team do!!
A few years ago Ski 2 Freedom was asked to help with the provision of specialist adaptive ski instructors for a wonderful new initiative which was being started by local English Klosters resident, to welcome those who had suffered a life-changing condition whilst in the Military Armed Services (UK) – Skiing with Heroes. This has proved to be enormously successful and the charity has gone on to do far more to help ex-service personnel in their rehabilitation. It’s been amazing to see how much they have achieved and this has helped to make locals aware of how inclusive and accessible their ski resort can be!
As each March sees a group arriving in Klosters, the sit-skis that are required have, in the meantime been given to Gotscnasport which means that other individual guests to Klosters and some are Ski 2 Freedom beneficiaries, can have the chance to be on the ski slopes – a win, win situation!
Although not many of the hotels are actually as accessible for wheelchairs as one would like, and there is a big difference with a group of wheelchair users staying with buddies as to an individual, but the village and hotels are extremely welcoming and it is a super destination for everyone!
A lot of non-skiing experiences and an amazing place to take a short break or a longer winter, or summer holiday to really recharge the batteries and put a sense of purpose back in to life.
For more information about Klosters please do contact Catherine Cosby direct on catherine.cosby@mountains4all.org PT Ski (specialists for Klosters) are our main Associate and we can put you in touch for all elements of your holiday.
@ski_2_freedom #ski2freedom #lifewithoutlimits @davosklosters @gotschnasport @klosters_madrisa