‘We should be all-inclusive’
New program hopes to make winter fun for all ages and abilities at Ski Ben Eoin
A new program at Ski Ben Eoin is making the sport of skiing available to those living with various disabilities.
The program was recently launched with assistance from Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS) and sees certified instructors bring the sport to all through the use of a sit-sled and other specialized teaching methods
“We were all instructors and had to adapt to teaching people in a sled that we help control,” said John Ling, who is one of seven CADS instructors now at Ski Ben Eoin.
“It was something really different. Some of the aspects were good but the sit-ski, as they call it, was difficult to learn.”
The program had been at Ski Ben Eoin in the past but was discontinued after some of the certified instructors moved on to other facilities and careers.
Last year, a CADS official was brought in for retraining of Ski
Ben Eoin instructors after a growing need and desire for the return of the program was noticed.
Among other things, the training put the instructors right on the hill and in the snow so that they could teach individuals with disabilities how to
use the specialized sit-sled that takes them down the ski hill with an instructor in tow.
All instructors are up to speed now, Ling said, and ready to offer the sit-sled and the other aspects of the program to the greater community.
“I love it. I’ve been involved with the ski hill over 30 years and you want to be inclusive to everyone. Ski Ben Eoin is a community organization. We should be all-inclusive and it is good that we are striving to do our best to make it that way.”
To access the program, contact Ski Ben Eoin at 902-8282804 for further details.
“We are trying to create awareness more than anything for people who don’t realize the option is there to come out to be trained and take lessons; no matter what your disability is you can still participate.”