Everybody Rides!

Detaljer

Överliggande kategori: Sports

Kategori: Winter Sports

Skriven av Kimberley Barreda

Träffar: 590

I remember the first time I ever skied.

It was with the local adapted program in an old beat up Mogul Master with a bolted on ski. Even though there were six volunteers with me and we were on the bunniest of bunny hills, I was terrified. I didn't know where I was and I had no idea how to move the ski. I'm pretty sure the only words I said the entire time were "DON'T LET GO!!". The day wasn't a total wash though.. I was wearing a really cool hat.

What I remember most from that day is the fact that I was able to do something I had never ever thought possible, and that one hour around the bend on Huckleberry Patch was the beginning of a whole new way of life.

I skied a few times a month with them over the next 2 years, all really short sessions that were more scary than fun, and it was due to the equipment. Program equipment is essentially one size fits none. It's generically sized and set up for the ease and convenience of program providers and so as many people as possible can be served. That lack of customization doesn't necessarily work for the skiers themselves.

Through my job as Associate Editor of Active Living Magazine I lucked into a monoski of my own. It was huge but it was mine and I tweaked it so it fit as well as possible. I also met up with an adapted ski instructor who just happened to be a monoskier. So I bought a pass and skied that winter with him in my own gear.

The next year I ordered a custom ski and was insanely proud of my oh-so-awesome 26 days on the hill.

That was in 2002. Since then, I've morphed from a sidewalk rolling, path taking city girl to a 50 - 70 days a year raving ski lunatic addicted to all Warren Miller ski porn videos in existence.

I also have a perfectly fitted (and appropriately duct taped) Revolution Pro-Comp ski, modified (by me) Superlite outriggers, a selection of skis from a tiny little K2 twin tip to a fully custom Montana Ski Company double rocker all mountain ski that was specifically designed for me, ridiculously cool blingy goggles and a group of friends that love to ski as much as I do who don't mind avoiding the cliffs and jumps every now and then.

That combination changed everything. I went from needing everyone they could send to falling asleep in the sun riding up 7, kicking it in the Bowl and getting MILES of deep powdery fresh tracks on Hellfire more than once. Proper gear + great friends + a killer hill = AWESOME!!!

That's what the Everybody Rides ski program does. We provide the staff, lift tickets, equipment and the instructors so people with physical disabilities can get out on the hill and experience the thrill of downhill skiing in a social setting. We also provide financial assistance toward adapted gear and lift tickets so they can ski independently.

Please visit us at Unlimbited.com to get more information on the program, other adapted programs, resorts and adapted ski gear.