Accessibility for All—How Ski Santa Fe Celebrates Adaptive Snowsports
Author
Peter Kray
Date Published
Skiing and snowboarding are unbound sports, built on gravity, snow, and the magic of motion. Their unending appeal transcends age limits and abilities, especially in regard to adaptive athletes with physical, cognitive, or visual disabilities, who often find a unique sense of freedom and autonomy in sliding down the slopes.
That’s certainly why Ski Santa Fe is so committed to providing accessible facilities and programs for all its guests, regardless of mobility, visual, hearing, or other accessibility needs.
And why, before a new adaptive skier or snowboarder even reaches the slopes, the area has already established a well-working framework for that guest’s success. Key to that outcome is the mountain’s longstanding partnership with Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico (ASPNM), a statewide non-profit with a more than four-decade history of introducing people to adaptive snowsports.
“Ski Santa Fe is by far our one of our longest and most generous beneficiaries,” said ASPNM Executive Director Camille Romero. “Our organization wouldn’t have anywhere near the shape and reach it has now without their continued support. It's not an understatement to say they've donated millions and millions of dollars in lift tickets to support our athletes and our volunteers, and make sure that each winter we get up to 250 athletes on the snow.”
That support continues to increase opportunities for adaptive snowsports participation, mainly by helping ASP train its many hardworking volunteers. With such a wide range of equipment and specialized teaching techniques specific to each student, every adaptive lesson provides a unique opportunity to set and reach new goals.
The one constant? According to ASPNM Development and Marketing Coordinator Alex Grunstein, the commitment each of the volunteers has to creating that experience every time they take a lesson out.
“Of course, our athletes want to be there, but given that we are so volunteer-driven, the people who are making that commitment are truly committed to helping the athletes be successful,” Alex said. “I think that really helps play into the sense of community. How much the instructors care about growing the program by giving each student a day on the mountain that they just can’t get anywhere else.”
Camille concurs and says that every time she is out skiing with the other adaptive instructors and their students, she sees that shared sense of on-snow community spreading among everyone else.
“It’s how much everyone wants to help out, from asking if we have enough wheelchair accessible parking to the lifties going above and beyond to really accommodate our loads and unloads, and how they’re really well trained to see us and ask us if they need to slow down the chair when they see our instructors ski up in their orange vests,” she said. “The patrollers, too. Everyone is always ready to help. It’s an amazing relationship. How much they want to make sure our athletes have a safe experience.”
Of course, Camille adds, the happiest skiers and snowboarders at the end of each successful lesson may just be the families of those adaptive snowsports athletes. That’s because at the end of the day, “What everyone really wants to do is share the sport.”
From Adaptive Ski Programs to Service Animal Questions to Accommodation Requests, Start Click here for an Overview of Ski Santa Fe’s Commitment to Accessibility.
