Participants
Are you a person with a disability that wants to participate in skiing or snowboarding? Our trained volunteers would love to work with you to get you out on the slopes. Our program consists of 6 adaptive lessons each year starting in January and ending in February which consists of 6 lessons on Friday evenings from 7 pm — 9 pm at the Canyon Ski Resort in Red Deer. We love when family and friends volunteer to ski/snowboard with participants and we will train family and friends on ways to ski/snowboard with their loved one.
How to Sign up
To register as a Participant follow this link
Choose the Option of “Become a Participant”
Our various disciplines include
Sitski (Mono, Bi or Quad Ski): Participants that do not have leg strength to stand and ski for a full lesson can ski in one of three types of sit-ski, with or without hand outriggers this group is also suitable for participants with brain injuries, cerebral palsy or spinal cord injuries that requires the use of a wheelchair. Our Instructors will maximize your participation in skiing while always keeping you as safe as possible, whether it is tipping you head to initiate a turn on a quad-ski or skiing independently in a mono ski. Typically, Quad skis are best suited for participants requiring more mobility assistance and mono skis are better suited for participants looking to gain more independence in their ski experience.
3-Track & 4-Track: This group is best suited for participants with any type of amputation, single, double above or below the knee skiing with or without a prosthesis. This group is also suitable for participants with Polio, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, emiplegia or other conditions that cause low leg strength and would benefit from skiing with outriggers.
Snowboard: For anyone who wants to slide sideways!! This group is able to accommodate a range of physical or neurological differences. Participants who are experienced skiers looking for a new challenge or for any new participants who prefer snowboards as a platform. Physiology (e.g., duck-foot gait or hemiparesis) may be better accommodated with this equipment. A range of equipment and techniques are available to support developing riders..
Blind or Visually Impaired: If your visual challenge prevents you from taking regular ski or snowboard lessons, we can help you. Your visual challenge can include but not be limited to poor or low vision (20/200 or worse) no depth perception, blind spots, deteriorating vision, tunnel vision or no vision (complete blindness).
Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Lessons are taught with special awareness to hearing loss for those living with total or partially reduced hearing capabilities.
Cognitive Learning Disabled: The Cognitive Learning Disabled group is ideal for able-bodied participants of all ages with average or above average learning ability who have difficulty learning new skills or attending in group instruction due to cognitive disabilities such as attention deficits, behavior issues, autism, brain injury or other cognitive issues. The one-on-one instruction by trained volunteers does result in the learning of skiing skills that lead to the enjoyment of the wonderful winter sport of skiing.
Neurodiverse (Formally DD): Our participants are of all ages who require a slower and/or more repetitive approach in learning since they have disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X, extreme Autism, brain injury etc. The ski student will be paired with one or more volunteers to ensure a fun learning environment during the lesson.