RIDE ON!

Thanks to leaps and bounds in technology, and a shift in attitudes, the world of the adaptive ski is making the magic of the mountains accessible for an increasing number of skiers and boarders, regardless of their physical condition

- MATT MASSON

For many people, sliding down snow, standing on what essentially equates to slippery planks, is one of the best activities a human can do.

It also comes with risk. Serious injuries, while statistically rare for the majority of skiers, do happen. And then what? Athletes, pros, and ardent winter sports lovers will rarely give up their passion for the mountains easily, and it’s this determination to continue riding, sliding, and enjoying the pistes, no matter what, that’s driven the recent rise in adaptive skiing.

A cynic might ask why a multimilli on pound travel industry wouldn’t want to maximize its market. And, in recent years it’s started to do just that. In terms of technology, accessibility, and specialist tour operator packages, adaptive skiing has progressed hugely since its beginnings as a form of rehabilitation for injured soldiers. Today, it has grown into something that can mean any form of skiing or snowboarding that uses adaptations to make the sport accessible for people who are disabled, injured or are lacking in balance or mobility, or simply struggle with any aspect of downhill skiing/snowboarding.

The concept was first explored to rehabilitate injured German and Austrian soldiers in the 1940s. Franz Wendel — an amputee — pioneered the concept when he attached small skis to the end of his crutches, enabling him to enter a competition alongside able-bodied skiers. Wendel’s rudimentary crutches were an early version of ‘outriggers’, and while the design and technology has improved in 80 years, the concept remains largely the same: a cross between crutches and ski poles with a small ski at the bottom. This allows anyone who needs the added support — for whatever reason — to enjoy the sport.