In the latest of the Skier & Snowboarder magazine’s regular look at the opportunities offered by Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), we highlight how a new magic carpet is helping skiers and snowboarders in Cairngorm
Not every snowsport enthusiast can travel abroad to learn to ski or find their winter fix, so the mountains of Scotland are a precious resource for UK skiers and snowboarders.
Disability Snowsport UK has had a base at Cairngorm Mountain for more than 20 years, but the closure of the funicular railway and then the pandemic paused all activity on the mountain for several years.
The team at Cairngorm Mountain are just as committed as DSUK to welcoming everyone to the hill, and we’re delighted to be back in operation this winter. With a dedicated adaptive snowsport school and accessible facilities, Cairngorm is once again welcoming skiers and snowboarders who need specialist equipment or instructors.
Traditional tows can present difficulties for some adaptive skiers, particularly those who use sit skis. A sit skier typically uses a piece of kit known as a ‘quick release’. It is a system of straps and connectors that enables the sit skier to ride a t-bar or poma tow hands free.
But, for a sit skier to use a quick release system the ground underneath the tow must be suitable too. There must be enough run off at the end for the skier to be able to offload and pack away their quick release system safely and any downhill dips in the path of the tow can be challenging too when gravity is less likely to keep the quick release safely in place. Knowledgeable and patient lifties are also key to making these tows accessible.
Surface lifts are available throughout the lower and upper mountain for stand up skiers and the reopening of the railway will help sit skiers and people who have problems with mobility access the upper mountain too.
New magic carpets have opened up the lower slopes for stand up skiers and sit skiers alike. The conveyor belt uplifts are making a huge difference to the accessibility of snowsport at Cairngorm for disabled skiers and snowboarders. These make access easy for sit skiers, without the need for quick releases and the fiddly packing and unpacking that happens on more traditional uplifts.
Disability Snowsport UK’s chief executive, Virginia Anderson (pictured) said: “We’re delighted to work in partnership with Cairngorm Mountain to ensure that we continue to remove barriers to snowsport. Being able to experience the joy and challenges of being in a mountain environment can be life changing. Realising what you’re capable of or simply experiencing the freedom of being in Scotland’s glorious landscape opens up a world of possibility.”
Cairngorm Mountain’s chief executive, Susan Smith added: “We are thrilled to continue to host Disability Snowsport here at Cairngorm Mountain, providing a facility for DSUK to continue the valuable work they do in making mountains accessible for all. This allows everyone to be able to take part in snowsports regardless of disability, injury or experience.”
The DSUK adaptive snowsport school is open for individual and group learners, whether you’re a sit skier, a visually impaired skier who needs a guide, or a group that needs tailored lessons for young people with learning disabilities, everyone is welcome.
www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk
* LATEST NEWS: Iglu Ski has partnered with Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), to raise funds to help disabled children and adults to be more active, make friends and have fun. Watch out for more on this story coming soon.
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