NZSkier.com - Magazine, Video, Web

10th August 2010

Sunshine and big smiles were the order of the week at Cardrona for the Adaptive Snow Sports Festival which culminated with a fantastically Fancy Dress fun race.

Over 30 participants travelled from all over the country to take part in the festivities.  The week was filled with group clinics, Slalom, GS and Gravity X races as well as one-on-one lessons for all participants. 

3-track skiers from left to right Rhys Harrison (green helmet), Martin Leeper, Al Wyeth

A wide range of disabilities was represented including autism, down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, amputation, visual impairment and spinal cord injuries.  No matter what the disability, an equal playing field was found on the slopes of Cardrona.

Visually impaired snowboarder Daniel Sharp with guide Dieter Roussel

Mono skier James Littlejohn

Cardrona and the Festival were also joined this year by Karen Skillen, a woman who plans to ski in 50 different countries during the next 10 months in an effort to raise funds and awareness for adaptive skiing programmes in each area she visits.

Karen Skillen with festival participants Hamish and Morgan

At her instigation, a fund has been started to acquire a new Praschberger mono-ski for the Cardrona Adaptive programme.   NZD$9000 is needed for this hope to become a reality.   In a town the size of Wanaka, it would take less than the cost of a cup of coffee per person for this to happen ... can we do it?!

Details can be found here.