Try Out a New Adaptive Sport this Winter Season

Guest blog post by Bob Vogel

Winter is here, temperatures are falling and so is the snow. This is Mother Nature’s way of telling wheelchair users “I’ve covered the outdoors with an amazing accessible blanket of snow and ice. Switch from wheels to skis or skates, and come out and play!”

Adaptive gear for winter sports has evolved to the point where people with almost any disability level can actively participate. It’s time to grab your warm clothing, choose your preferred method of gliding, skating or sliding and play in the winter wonderland. Here are some ideas.

Adaptive Downhill Skiing

For enjoying a dance with gravity in stunning mountain surroundings, adaptive downhill skiing is the ticket. There are several types of adaptive skis for wheelchair users. One option is a bi-ski — a molded bucket-style seat mounted to a frame attached to two, wide, specially designed skis — enables anybody to ski. For skiers that have hand movement, bi-skis can be turned using outriggers — forearm crutches with small skis attached at the tip used for balance and for turning. Bi-skiers are usually “tethered” — a stand-up skier holds a tether made of climbing webbing to assist speed control and turning — and also assisted on and off the lift. If you have the ability to move your head you have the ability to turn a bi-ski and enjoy the slopes.

 

 

Mono-Ski

A mono-ski — a molded bucket-style seat mounted on a suspension system and shock absorber mounted to a standard snow ski — is arguably the ultimate sports prosthetic. Expert mono-skiers shred the entire mountain and back country — from powder, to terrain parks, to extreme steeps and huge jumps the same as stand-up skiers. The learning progression, and length of time it takes to become proficient at mono-skiing is similar to stand-up skiing. Although trunk muscle control makes the sport much easier to learn, I know several low level quadriplegics — including a C6/7 complete quad — that are accomplished mono-skiers.

Nordic Sit Ski

If you are looking to get away from the crowds and glide through the beauty and quiet of nature — nordic sit skiing is for you. A nordic sit ski (also called XC sit ski) is a lightweight molded bucket-style seat mounted on two cross-country skis — the rig is propelled with ski poles. XC sit skis are surprisingly easy to propel, and the polling action helps keep shoulders healthy and balanced by working the muscles in the back of the shoulder. The sport can be as simple as a XC glide over a meadow or through the woods, to multi-day hut trips — skiing from one cabin to the next, to races of anywhere from half-kilometer to 20 kilometers.

Skijouring

A fun addition to XC sit skiing that I enjoy is skijouring, getting towed by one or more dogs. When I’m out XC skiing with my daughter Sarah and Schatzie, my German Shepherd service dog, I attach a tether to Schatzie’s harness and yell “squirrels!” to enjoy a high-speed winter dog tow.

Sledge Hockey

Perhaps hockey is your game. Sled hockey, also known as “sledge” hockey is an international and Paralympic sport with the same the same high-speed excitement as stand-up hockey, but adapted to a sitting position. A hockey sled is a molded bucket seat mounted on a lightweight aluminum frame, mounted on standard hockey skate blades. Players hold a hockey stick in each hand, the bottom of the each stick is fitted with a serrated spikes used to propel the sled. Simple adaptations like duct tape enable people without hand-grip to play. Hockey sleds are easy to propel, and a good player can reach high speeds and carve sharp turns and high speed check stops.

Adaptive Skating

A very cool spin off of sled hockey is adaptive skating. The potential for possible high-speed impact in sled hockey is a bit much for my aging brittle bones — but thanks to sled hockey’s popularity, many ice rinks offer hockey sleds, usually at no cost, or the cost of rental skates. I have a blast going to my local rink, strapping into a hockey sled and skating with Sarah. It is a fun workout and also helps keep shoulders healthy by working the same muscles as cross-country skiing. Ask your local rink if they offer sleds, if they don’t suggest they get one, most will be happy to purchase one since it means more business for them.

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is another unique activity, ready made for wheelers. I’ve had the opportunity to go dog sledding and it’s an amazing way to travel into the winter wilderness. Riding in a dog sled, the only sounds are the hiss from the runners of the sled and the pitter-patter of dog paws. The tether to the dog team seems to make a direct connection to your senses, and watching ten wagging tails in front of you — running with its pack towing a sled through the snow on a crisp clear winter day, must be a blast for a dog. The experience is sure to put an ear-to-ear grin on your face. Dog sled operations are surprisingly common in snow country and trips range from 45-minute outings, to half day and even full day trips.

So pick a winter pastime, and enjoy mother nature’s winter adaptive blanket. See you on the snow!

Resources:

Adaptive Ski Programs

• Adaptive Adventures: www.adaptiveadventures.org
• Disabled Sports USA Far West: www.dsusafw.org
• Disabled Sports USA: www.dsusa.org
• Adaptive Ski & Sport Programs — Once on the page, scroll down to the map of the U.S. and click on the state where you want to ski: www.sitski.com/pg3.htm
• National Ability Center: www.discovernac.org

Dog Sledding:

• Wilderness Inquiry: www.wildernessinquiry.org
• Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge: www.dogsledding.com

Nordic Sit Skiing:

• Environmental Traveling Companions: www.etctrips.org
• Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Center: www.adaptivesports.org
• National Ability Center: www.discovernac.org
• Northeast Passage: www.nepassage.org
• Ski For Light: www.sfl.org
• Turning Point Tahoe: www.turningpointtahoe.com
• Wilderness Inquiry: www.wildernessinquiry.org

Sled Hockey:

• National Ability Center: www.discovernac.org
• Ski For Light: www.sfl.org
• United States Sled Hockey Association: www.usahockey.com/disable_hockey/default.aspx?NAV=AF_14&ID=62272

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Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog.

Dad’s Dream Road Trip

by Bob Vogel

This past summer I was able to relive one of my favorite childhood memories of a family camping trip — at age 51 — when I took my 10-year-old daughter Sarah and my German shepherd service dog Schatzie on a 21-day 3000-mile road trip from California to Colorado.

In addition to packing the Jeep and trailer with an adaptive off-road bike, camping gear and luggage, I made sure to pack a “skin check” mirror and the right cushions. I’m in my 26^th year as a T10 complete para — over the years I’ve developed a pelvic obliquity, my left ischium (butt bone) sits lower than my right. To compensate for the obliquity I use a ROHO^® QUADTRO SELECT^® Cushion on my chair, and to protect my butt in the car I sit on a custom two-chamber ROHO that doubles as a handcycle cushion. This would be especially important on the 10–12 driving days that lay ahead. As a journalist I’ve written about many wheelers that have gone decades without a pressure sore, only to get one and spend many months in the hospital with major skin flap surgery. Twenty-six years after rehab, I still do a morning and evening mirror skin-check.

My plan for the trip was to “drive until it’s time to stop” and then find an inexpensive hotel room. This being tourist season, finding a room without a reservation at late hours was going to be tough enough, forget about finding an accessible room with a roll-in-shower. No problem, a ROHO ADAPTOR^® PAD on the standard shower floors gave me a safe — and clean — place to transfer down to.

Our first destination was a campground nestled high in the Rocky Mountains next to the Colorado River near Eagle, Colorado. I was there to compete in the Adventure TEAM Challenge — a three-day multi-sport adaptive adventure race. The race is made up of five-person teams — two athletes on each team must have a disability, one of which must be a wheelchair user, the other three team members are non-disabled athletes. The focus of the event is teamwork — working together to get all five members through a race that includes mountain biking, white water rafting, zip line, hiking, climbing and navigating in the mountain wilderness.

During the long race days I wore a climbing harness that I lined with ADAPTOR PADs — held in place with contact cement. Not only did this protect my skin going over rocky terrain — the harness made it easier for my teammates to help me transfer over difficult obstacles.

At the event, Sarah and Schatzie had a great time camping and were able to tag along with the camera crew to watch the race and cheer me on. The team I raced with ended up in 5^th place — the highest placing rookie team.

Our next stop was Winter Park, Colorado for the No Barriers Summit — a four-day seminar that included the latest innovations in adaptive sports and adventure, adaptive technology, disability-related scientific presentations and adaptive adventure films.

More than 600 people with disabilities from around the world attended this year’s summit. For four days the Winter Park village became a hub of disability culture.

Sarah joined me on an adaptive white-water raft trip on the Colorado River. At times she would excitedly call out “Daddy, that’s where we were taking pictures of you during the race!” Sarah and Schatzie were also able to participate in adaptive kayaking — Sarah with me in a double kayak, Schatzie swimming from shore to our kayak and back. During rafting and kayaking, my skin was protected by my harness with an ADAPTOR PAD.

From Winter Park, we followed the same route through Colorado that my folks drove when I was Sarah’s age. Highlights included touring the mining town of Leadville — elevation 10,152 feet — driving over the continental divide and spending a day in Aspen. We watched the 4^th of July fireworks in Telluride, a scenic mountain town at the end of a box canyon surrounded by 13,000-foot mountain peaks — each display would light up the canyon walls and the boom’s echoed about the walls to Sarah’s delight. I was relieved that Schatzie is not gun-shy — she fell asleep halfway through the show.

From Telluride we drove to Durango to ride behind a steam locomotive on the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The route goes through a steep gorge, high in the San Juan Mountains and offers amazing views. The engine and coaches were built in the 1800’s with one very cool addition — a wheelchair lift on the coach nearest the engine — the most coveted spot for a rail fan.

Sarah loved the view — but said “Daddy, I’m getting cinders in my hair.” I replied “when we were kids, Grandpa explained that a real rail fan loves the cinders and soot, and we would see who could get the most.” From then on Sarah kept her head out of the coach as much as possible.

By the end of the line, Sarah was covered with soot and grinning from ear to ear — so was I — and grateful to have had this experience when I was a boy, even more grateful to share it with my daughter!

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Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog.

New show dedicated to athletes with disabilities airs on FSN, CSN

A new show titled Exceleration that is dedicated to showcasing athletes with disabilities. The show, which first aired in November, is presented by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The show airs on Fox Sports Network and Comcast Sports Network.

The first episode featured wheelchair rugby with footage of the recent World Wheel Chair Rugby Championships in Vancouver, B.C. The episode also included a feature on two-time Paralympic 100m Champion Marlon Shirley coaching aspiring athletes at the Challenged Athletes Foundation amputee sprint camp in San Diego, California. In addition, Exceleration featured four-time Hawaii Ironman disabled Champion Carlos Moleda and Jordan Bird, an athlete training for the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

The second episode is set to air December 11 (Check your local listings for time and date). You can become a fan of the show on Facebook to catch the latest episode.

Exceleration air dates and times for December 2010

Here is footage of wheelchair lacrosse from the FSN shoot.

Did you see the first episode? What did you think? Will you watch the upcoming episode?

Cheer on the Crazy 8s at the St. Louis Rams Wheelchair Rugby Crazy 8s Tournament

Cheer on the Crazy 8s at the St. Louis Rams Wheelchair Rugby Crazy 8s Tournament sponsored by the Saint Louis Wheelchair Athletic Association. The tournament will be in Perryville, MO on December 4th & 5th at the Perry Park Center (800 City Park Drive).

To volunteer at the tournament contact Meghan Gottlieb (gottliebm@wustl.edu) or Lindsey Kampwerth (lindsey.r.bean@gmail.com).

Wheelchair rugby has roots in wheelchair basketball and ice hockey and was originally called Murderball. Four players from each team are on the court at a time and is played on a regulation-sized basketball court with a few changes. There are four 8 minute periods. Then each player has 15 seconds to advance the ball into the opponents half-court. A player has to cross the goal line with two of their four wheels to score a point.

If you’re in the area or even if you aren’t come out and cheer on the athletes!

Congratulations to ROHO Elite athletes

November’s issue of Sport ‘N Spokes Magazine includes two articles that feature ROHO Elite athletes.

• “Smashing Success: Although rain delayed some of the action, topnotch tennis competitors kept the on-court play fast and furious” by Richard Dedor
• “Fourth Time’s a Charm” by Arley McNeney

The ROHO Group congratulates Team USA for winning its fourth world championship title at the 2010 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships as well as the continued success of wheelchair tennis champions Esther Vergeer and Shingo Kunieda.

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