My first ski run of the new season is in a bi-ski, complete with outriggers strapped to my arms.
It's the kind of bi-ski you see adaptive skiers occasionally using on area slopes, and I'm taking a run as a participant in a Northern Michigan Adaptive Skiing Program training session for instructors and volunteer helpers that was being held at Schuss Mountain. The weather was perfect.
The program, which is sponsored by Munson Rehab Services, is one of only three adaptive ski programs in the state and the only one in northern Michigan. It provides five days of skiing for adaptive skiers slated to take place in January and February at Crystal Mountain and Schuss Mountain.
Adaptive skiers are allowed to choose only three of five days to attend the program so they will be able to accommodate as many disabled skiers as possible, according to program coordinator Ann Reichert.
"If we had more instructors and were able to accommodate more skiers we wouldn't have a problem filling more days," she lamented. "It's a wonderful program with very positive benefits for the attendees."
The training program, being held with PSIA certified instructors, included a couple of adaptive skiers who are also certified instructors. It was amazing to see how they could perform on the slopes. They are as adept as everyone else.
"When I'm skiing I feel on a par with anyone, and it's the only sport that I feel that way," said Brad Gromoluch, an adaptive mono skier from Saginaw. "I was injured five years ago in a motocross accident that put me in a wheelchair. Four years ago I started in the adaptive skiing program, and it's given me a lot of confidence in other ways."
Gromoluch and his wife just had a baby recently, and he's looking forward to skiing with his new daughter in a few years.
"It gives me a lot to look forward to," he smiled.
Jim Munson, from the Grand Rapids area, has been in wheelchair for the last 25 years and has been mono-skiing for the last 16. He's a certified PSIA instructor.
"Without a doubt skiing gives me the most freedom I enjoy. It makes me feel whole," he said as we talked at lunch on Saturday. "I went to Colorado a few years ago. It was my first trip skiing outside the Midwest. Halfway down the mountain I stopped and looked up. It was an awesome feeling that came over me. I thought, 'Wow, I've come from way up there and headed way down there. I'm in the middle of a mountain by myself.' It made me feel that I could handle most things."
Both men, who are adaptive skiers, are a great boon to the program, according to Reichert.
"When new disabled skiers come into the program and can see what these two adaptive skiers have accomplished, it just gives them a feeling of hope and confidence," she pointed out.
The program was started from scratch about nine years ago and today has over 30 instructors. There were about 20 people at Saturday's session -- some just getting started as trainee instructors and some veterans like Gromoluch and Munson getting some training time on the snow.
Traverse City resident Steve King has been involved with the program for a number of years. He's not handicapped, but likes helping out with the training and working with new adaptive skiers.
"It's one of the most rewarding things that I do," he said. "I've been a volunteer for six years now and help with what ever I can do. I've never laughed and cried so hard as watching and working with participants on the hill. When they take off on their own it's just a wonderful feeling. It's great to see families ski together again. I look forward to this each winter."
On Saturday they were practicing working with adaptive skier equipment and volunteers using the equipment to assimilate actual skiing conditions and familiarization with the equipment -- all under the guidance of PSIA certified instructors.
There are a number of equipment choices for adaptive skiers, depending on the severity of the disability. I offered -- with a little coaxing from the two adaptive skiers -- to ride in one of the bi-skis so they could work on getting me down the hill. On a bi-ski you sit in a rigid seat mounted to two shorter, wide skis, and you are totally strapped in so you won't fall out. Outriggers are attached to each of your arms to assist in stability and guidance of the bi-ski down the hill.
The hardest part of the experience for me was waiting to be loaded on the chairlift. As we approached all I could think about was being loaded onto the chairlift and, being, strapped in to the bi-ski, totally helpless on the way up; dependent on others to take care of me. It was an anxious moment. I had to trust the helpers.
King was one of the helpers, and he talked to me all the way through the loading, which turned out just fine. The chair slows down. They pick you up and put you on the lift. Once we started up I was OK, but I didn't look down. You really are secure on the lift and a helper sits on each side of you.
Once back on the snow on top of Schuss Mountain I was fine and the trip down was a blast. I didn't tip over, which they said most will do the first time out. I was tethered to an instructor, and having skied for nearly 40 years helped my sense of balance and anticipating what to expect of the bi-ski's movements. I had the sense of skiing down the slope with the bi-ski, and it was an exhilarating feeling; just like I get on a regular set of skis.
To a minor degree I understood how Munson must of felt his first trip down a Colorado mountain as I looked up to the top of Schuss Mountain. There's no comparison between the two locations, but I felt a sense of accomplishment and exhilaration.
It's a great program, and if anyone were interested in becoming a volunteer they could call Reichert at (231) 935-8684. At present they can only accommodate about 50 adaptive skiers for the five skiing days. If they had more volunteer helpers they could work with more adaptive skiers.
Adaptive ski events for this season are scheduled Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11, and Saturday, Jan. 24, at Crystal Mountain, and Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22, at Schuss Mountain. For more information on the program you can call the number above.
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