How To Get Into Adaptive Snowsports
The 2022 Beijing Paralympics have inspired a whole generation to pursue a career as a professional athlete, whether watching Great Britain’s Neil Simpson win gold in the Men’s Super-G Vision Impaired Para Alpine Skiing, or Menna Fitzpatrick win silver in the same Women’s division. Or watching Ollie Hill absolutely smash the twisty curvy banked slalom course and come home with bronze in the Men’s Banked Slalom SB-LL2 Para Snowboard competition, its hard to watch world-class athletes and not be inspired.
If you watched the Paralympics and wondered how you or someone you love could get into adaptive snowsports, look no further.
If you are based in the United Kingdom check out Disability Snowsports UK (DSUK). DSUK is the UK’s leading adaptive snowsport charity. With more than 40 years of experience in teaching and supporting disabled skiers and snowboarders. Disability Snowsport UK partners with snow domes and slopes across the UK to offer lessons and groups aimed at providing skiing and snowboarding to all, regardless of disability, injury or experience. With tailored gear and speciality ski areas, DSUK is an excellent choice for those new to snowsports and for those with more experience.
DSUK offers lessons in indoor and outdoor dry snow slopes across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hemel Hampstead, Manchester, Sandown, Tamworth, and outside on the Scottish mountains during the winter season. They also offer package accessible ski holidays which are a fun and accessible way to travel with a group of like-minded skiers, snowboarders, family and friends.
Each winter, Consensio donates one private 1-2-1 DSUK adaptive snowsports lesson for a child each and every week we operate during the winter months. We strongly believe that the Mountains should be for Every Body.
After practising snow sports in the UK, maybe you want to ski alongside your family on your next winter getaway – so what next?
Oxygène ski school are a family-friendly, English-speaking ski & snowboard school in the French Alps. They operate adaptive snowsports lessons across the French ski resorts La Plagne, Val d’Isère, Les Trois Vallées, Grand Bornand, Tignes and Serre Chevalier.
Oxygène Ski School have been operating for more than 20 years. After starting in la Plagne, they extended across to Val d’Isère and then to 3 Valleys. They now provide mainly alpine skiing tuition, alongside all types of adaptive lessons, including sit-ski and stand up lessons and classes for people with any disabilities. They tailor each of their classes to their client, so get in touch with them to see what is possible.
When asked what inspired them to start leading accessible snowsports lessons, Oxygène said, “We have always believed that skiing should be for everyone. Twenty years ago when we were chatting about it we realized that skiing wasn’t possible for all at that time, and we decided to make that change to help make snowsports accessible for everybody.” After getting an adaptive snowsports lesson request out of the blue, they decided to learn how to teach snowsports to all
All Oxygène’s teachers are fully qualified ski instructors, and they then train with Oxygène’s coach trainer who is specialized in adaptive skiing. On average, an Oxygène ski instructor takes two to three seasons to be fully operational to teach all the different varieties of adaptive skiing they offer.
When asked what advice would they give to someone with a disability who wants to get into snowsports, Julien told us “It’s one of the best accessible sports one can do, just make sure you choose the right ski resort for your accessibility needs, including great accessible accommodation where you will not be too isolated from the lifestyle of the resort.”
When booking an accessible snowsports lesson, the quality and experience of the ski school make such a difference, and the variety of equipment and lesson types on offer are also essential. If you want an incredible holiday, make sure to book a professional instructor with lots of experience. Additionally, it is important to choose a ski resort with great snow quality and a range of piste difficulties for the best ski holiday experience.
Accessible Ultimate Catered Ski Chalets
When staying in an Ultimate Catered Chalet, you have a whole team of private staff available to you, including a dedicated chauffeur who will transport you directly from the chalet onto the piste and is on call throughout the day to collect you whenever you need. Your private chef contacts you ahead of your stay to better understand any dietary requirements and requests and creates a bespoke menu, tailored to your every need and desire.
Accessible Self-Catered Alpine Apartments
Our sales and concierge team are on call 24/7 to discuss your stay with Consensio. Let us create the holiday of a lifetime tailored to your wishes and needs.
“Every big event creates an increase of interest in adaptive snowsports,” says Julien Favre, the Director of Oxygène, “one of the best reactions from an event was after the London Paralympics”. We anticipate an increase in adaptive snowsports after this year’s Beijing Paralympics, so if you want to book a luxury ski holiday in the French Alps, book your accommodation and ski instructors as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Click here to view Consensio’s Luxury Accessible Ski Chalets and Apartments.