For people with disabilities, physical activities can be difficult. But because of the Society for the Handicapped of Modesto, even the severely handicapped can go snow skiing. Disabled skiers with varying disabilities such as Autism, Cardiopulmonary Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, paralysis, and blindness get a chance to experience the fun of racing down a mountain. From the end of December to the end of March, the Society and their many volunteers arrange Saturday ski trips to Dodge Ridge which allows all the disabled participants to have fun in the snow. The Society recruits volunteers to help the disabled skiers who come from a wide range of places from the Sacramento area to the Turlock area.

  Participants arrive at 9 AM, and depending on their disability, are paired with their trained volunteers most of the volunteers are Ski Patrol members, excellent skiers who are there to make sure we have fun. Blind participants receive a guide that skis with them and tells them when to turn and where the obstacles are. People who use a sit-ski pair up with a musher and two skiers; the musher controls the sit ski while one skier goes in front and the other goes behind to ensure safety. Snowing or not, everyone goes up the mountain at 10 AM and skis to the end of the day. It certainly is exhausting but also is the most enjoyable out of any of the sports I have tried!

  I have been participating in this program for eight years now and there are over one hundred disabled skiers that go up each year. When I go, I use a sit ski– a seat mounted and balanced on top of a pair of skis. To steer I use two small outriggers which help to balance the sit ski. The great thing about a sit ski is it allows me to sit high above the ground and enjoy the long ride down.

  At the top of the mountain, my aides unlatch the sit ski and push me off. My musher (the volunteer that helps me steer) hooks long leather tethers to my seat to make sure that I don’t get away and break the speed of the ski. Off we go, down the intermediate runs, skiing just like everyone else on the mountain.

  I love going snow skiing, because it gives me a chance to socialize with the other skiers. The great thing about the Society is that it helps the disabled by setting up recreational activities which enhances participants self confidence and allows the community to see beyond the wheelchairs and recognize the qualities and potential of individuals with disabilities. This ski program helps me to see that I can do whatever I want in life.