Sit-ski, child with disability, parent and no ski instructor

Ski independently with your disabled child in France

Sit-ski, son or daughter with a disability or special need, you as a parent and no ski instructor!

For all parents, brothers, sisters or friends and willing volunteers who would like to have the opportunity of being independent of a ski instructor then why not take advantage of the Training Programme for the Tessier Piloted Dual-ski which is organized by a number of French Ski Schools.

This is an ideal chance to have the necessary accreditation which will allow you to take your own child around the pistes with family and friends. All you need is to be a good skier and have a couple of days spare to attend one of the courses. Normally they are arranged around when you are free but to make the cost a bit easier it might be worth considering doing it with another family member or a good friend who may come on ski holidays with you.

The cost depends on which ski school and instructor you choose and the number of participants.

It is recommended that you do at least 2 days training (1 day is the minimum and it’s ok only for advanced skiers).

At the end of the course if you pass then you will need to pay Tessier (www.dualski.com) 10 € for the accreditation card (this cost covers the card, its shipping and the time spent to do it).

We now have more and more parents and friends wishing to do this course and it really does mean that you will have far more freedom and, importantly, cut down on the overall cost of your ski holiday as we all know the most expensive part is the specialist ski instruction for someone with a disability or special need.

To see where you can do the course please click here. You may wish to do the course at a ski resort you know well or are likely to visit or take the opportunity of finding somewhere new! For any advice on the locations please do not hesitate to contact Catherine Cosby – catherine.cosby@mountains4all.org – as she has a lot of useful info on the locations and has, in many cases skied with the instructors either in the equipment or alongside and may have useful insights into whether the resort is suitable for a possible ski holiday for you and your family.

Useful Information:

• It is always worth trying to do the course early on in the season before you go away as everything will be much fresher in your mind about what is involved. If you do it at the end of the season then it would be advisable to ensure you take an instructor for at least one or two sessions just for a refresher.

• Whether you hire a sit-ski from a ski school or from Ski 2 Freedom it is essential that you take an instructor for one session so that they can ensure you are happy with the lift systems and you are up to date with your understanding about how to pilot the ski. This is as much a safety point as anything as we are keen to ensure that no accidents do happen – the lift operators control who has access to the slopes and we wish to ensure a happy relationship with them!!

• Not all resorts will have the equipment (dual-ski) for you to hire so do make enquiries and early booking is essential! Ski 2 Freedom does have two skis available for this but again you must book early – next winter 2013-2014 we hope to have a Piloted Dual-ski in Val d’Isere for use in the Tarentaise and one ski available in another resort (not yet decided but just ask us – and we are normally, if it is convenient, happy to ensure the ski is where you want it!)

• Cost of equipment: most ski schools do not charge if you take an instructor but, without one then they may make a small rental fee. Ski 2 Freedom charges the same as renting a normal pair of skis and this is payable to the Foundation in advance. You will also be asked to sign a disclaimer and form to cover any damage caused by you.

-You can also wear a gilet which will indicate that you are with a disabled skier

If, as some parents are now doing, feel that you would like to have the independence and ensure that a sit-ski is always available then you can contact Tessier www.dualski.com and visit their workshop in St Remy de Maurienne to buy one - full assessment and training is given on the nearby ski slopes of St Francois Longchamp.

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