Breaking Down the Barriers in Sports
~by Christine Nieder
I always aim to prove that people with disabilities can accomplish anything when they just put the effort and enthusiasm into it. Being a big believer in trying anything once, I spent a few days in Whistler, BC, the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, doing just that. I was accompanied by five friends, all with varying degrees of vision loss, who were visiting from the United Kingdom. We all participated in the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP).
Myself being the novice skier, I stuck to the bunny hill where as others went on much more advanced runs. Each of us was provided with a sighted guide, who were specially trained to work with people with disabilities. The guides wore vests so they were more visible to us, and we wore vests saying “Blind Skier” to presumably warn other skiers.
This was my first time skiing since I was probably about five years old. I felt comfortable right away on the skis, as I have grown up doing a great deal of cross country. But as I learned quickly, downhill is definitely much more challenging! Mastering the art of snowploughing quickly, my instructor decided it was time to move up on the slopes and try a steeper and longer run. This proved most interesting! I did alright until I needed to turn left to avoid hitting snowboarders. Try as I might, I could not make a turn to the left and ended up executing a right turn, directly into the snow bank. For the rest of the afternoon, try as I might, all my attempted left hand turns ended up going to the right. Despite this set back, I had a great time trying and found a new sport that I would like to continue.
Feeling an adrenaline rush from my skiing experience, my friends and I signed up for a rather extreme sports experience available in Whistler; zip trekking. This is where a person hangs 60 feet above the ground on a cord, attached by only a harness around the body. The person then proceeds to zip down the cord, reaching speeds up to 60 km an hour. This was probably the most exhilarating experience of my life! The first line I stepped up with a great deal of hesitation and kept asking the poor instructor if they had ever had an accident yet? Once I was convinced I would not plummet to my death, I took the step off the platform and was away. It was truly a memorable day!
I encourage parents to get your kids involved with organized and extreme sports. It builds confidence within themselves and creates opportunities for growth. If the above experiences seem a bit too extreme, try starting off simple, soccer, baseball, curling, bowling, floor hockey etc. See if there are events in your community for individuals who have disabilities. Here in Vancouver we have goalball teams (sport designed specifically for the blind), a blind hockey team, tandem biking and even a martial arts club! There are a ton of options and everything can be adapted to fit your child’s needs. Get out and play!