It’s winter time and that means skiing season is in full swing here in Michigan!  Michigan Adaptive Sports has an awesome winter program that gives people with disabilities the opportunity to downhill ski.  Our daughter had her first skiing experience with them which you can read about in my previous article Downhill Skiing for Special Needs Kids.  She had an amazing time and I was eager for her to try it again!

Seamless Scheduling

The email to sign up landed in my inbox in October for the sessions taking place in January.  I signed her up right away because I knew from previous experience that the spots fill up quickly for this popular activity.  They used SignUp Genius this year which made the process easier than before.  It allowed me to view all of the available sessions and select a day and a time slot.  Even though I was able to book a preferred time, there’s always a chance the session is cancelled or rescheduled due to bad weather conditions.  In fact, the weekend before her scheduled time, there was a bad storm and all the sessions were cancelled.  They really try and accommodate everyone and they asked if we could change our time slot so they can fit in some additional sessions.  It helped that we were flexible and could take any available time.

Geared up for Skiing Fun

In preparation for our daughter’s ski session, I thought it would be a good idea to talk to her about it.  We seem to have better success with activities when she knows what to expect.   We looked at pictures of her first skiing experience and I explained what was happening in each picture.  She giggled and smiled while we talked and she seemed really excited! 

Next, I gathered all of our winter gear to try on.  I did this about a week ahead of time just in case I needed to shop or borrow something.  Skiing is more enjoyable when you’re dressed appropriately for the weather.   Here’s my list of must have gear to stay comfortably warm:   hat, gloves or mittens, warm jacket, snow pants, layered clothing, warm socks,  scarf or neck warmer, hand and toe warmers, boots, goggles, hat, helmet (they had one to borrow). 

The Dream Team

When we arrived at Pine Knob Ski Resort, the lodge was bustling with skiers just ending the previous sessions.   We were greeted by familiar faces and friendly volunteers at check-in.  I was glad that our daughter was teamed up with Coach Jim again!  Also part of the team were two ski buddies.  They were there to help get her on and off the chair lift, watch for other skiers and help assist if she fell.  The team members are excellent skiers and teachers at heart.  They are trained to not only keep her safe but to help improve her skiing skills.  I am so grateful to them for making the time to volunteer and share their expertise with the disabled community!

Selecting the right equipment

Coach Jim chatted with our daughter and observed as she interacted with others and walked around the lodge.  He noted that she was strong, aware of her surroundings and had a high level of interest and enthusiasm.  He thought she would do well in the “Mountain Man” sled.  The specialized sit-ski would give her a more independent experience which he felt was really important. 

The “Mountain Man” sled is a type of sit-ski with dual skis, a bucket style seat, foot platform and an optional handle bar.  The skier is able to control her direction by leaning to the right or left to make turns.  It is also equipped with outriggers.  These are attachments on the sides of the ski to help with balance and turning.  The sled had long tethers attached to it so that the coach can help guide the skier and control her speed.  This ski was different compared to the one she used previously.  The previous ski had a handle on the back of the seat that the coach used to push and make turns.

 The team carried the ski while my husband and I walked Caitlin out of the lodge and to the base of the hill.  They buckled her in to the ski and attached the handlebar.   They put foam blocks under her feet for a firm foundation and to give a slight bend to her knees.  Before they took off, Coach Jim went over what they were going to be doing.  He explained that she could hold on to the handle if she wanted to but it wasn’t necessary.  He showed her how to lean to the left and right and explained that this would allow her to make turns.   He pointed toward the chairlift and explained they would be using it to ride to the top of the hill. 

A Silly, Good Time Learning New Skills

They didn’t get very far on the first run!  She wiped out shortly after getting off the chairlift!  I could tell she was OK judging from her loud laughter.  The ski is easy to tilt and one does not have to lean that much to turn.  She was leaning really hard and just toppled over. 

Our daughter quickly learned that she was in control of her direction.  I could tell she liked it because she was smiling and laughing a lot.  She fell at least two more times because she was turning side to side very quickly.  I suspect she was doing this on purpose because of the side-splitting laughter that would follow every time!   To help slow down her turns, Coach Jim told her that she could switch sides only after he spelled out “Z-I-P-P-Y” (her favorite stuffed toy cat).  What a clever strategy!  It proved to be the exact motivation she needed to slow down.    She exclaimed loudly “I DID IT!” when she got to the end of a successful run.  She was so proud of her new skills and accomplishment!

The almost 40 degree temperatures combined with the previous day’s heavy rain caused the snow to be quite mushy.   It was hard to pick up speed in these conditions and she would get stuck!  Getting her “unstuck”, in addition to the tipping over and learning how to turn, made it much more physically demanding on everyone.  Because of this, we stayed on the easier hill the whole time.  She seemed to be getting tired after about one and a half hours on the hill.  We decided to call it a day and returned to the lodge to warm up and wind down with a drink and a snack.

It’s More Than Just Ski Lessons

I very much appreciate Michigan Adaptive Sports for giving her this opportunity. Coach Jim and his team worked tirelessly to give Caitlin an outstanding skiing experience.  Their patient and playful coaching helped our daughter make a lot of progress in her skiing ability.  But it was more than just skiing. It was a celebration of many successes. It was a joyful and amusing time with tons of belly-laughs. It was an exploration of newly found independence and abilities. I can’t wait until next time to see how much more she can do and discover!