Monday 28 November 2011

Activity Weeks...are the best!!

The Crew-Williams' tell us a little bit about their experience on the DSUK Activity Weeks...

Looking back over the first decade of our daughter Zelda’s life (she has just celebrated her tenth birthday), there were three very clear signs that we had a skier on our hands from an early age.  The first sign was when Zelda, who was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, was nearly six months old.  We took her to Wales to celebrate the New Year.  On our arrival it was snowing and all the trees were heavy with a beautiful layer of fresh, white snow.  On seeing this winter wonderland, Zelda’s face melted into an enormous smile.  She wanted to be in the snow immediately, feeling its softness, its coldness, its strangeness.  Although only a baby, already she was communicating a passion for snow. 

The second sign was when she was around two years old.  We were watching a travel programme on television when the paralympian Ade Adepitan appeared on screen presenting a feature on adaptive skiing.  As soon as Zelda saw Ade in his mono-ski she was mesmerised.  I quickly started taping the programme as she shouted ‘again, again’ with absolute glee as he whizzed down the mountain.  We were to watch that extract hundreds of times, eliciting the same response again and again!  Strangely, and perhaps prophetically, the programme was broadcast just weeks before Zelda received her first wheelchair – it was as if she already knew that it was relevant to her.
The third sign was when Zelda was five years old.  By this time I had come across Disability Snowsport UK on the internet and in response to my many questions they assured me that Zelda could certainly ski if she wanted to.  So, in March 2005, we arrived in Andorra with DSUK to find snow galore.  Zelda’s first skiing experience was with instructor Rachel Easton, who felt that Zelda had the potential to become an accomplished skier – even at such a young age. 

That first week was magical, exciting, exhilarating and the best holiday we had ever had.  I had skied as a child but Zelda was far better than me after the first couple of days.  The group, comprising a varied mix of adults and children, was fantastically friendly and extremely good fun.  The DSUK team and the group of helpers were amazing - incredibly patient, understanding, all fantastic skiers and determined to give everyone a fabulous time.  Zelda’s father, Gareth, was a complete novice on snow and we all had tremendous fun laughing at his improbable technique!

After that experience, there was no doubt that a DSUK holiday was going to be an annual event.  We have happily forgone summer holidays in order to go skiing.  Zelda absolutely loves it and this year was a turning point for her in that she progressed from a sit-ski to a mono-ski.  We spent a week in Switzerland with Rachel patiently teaching Zelda to forget all the techniques she had learnt for the sit-ski, learning instead how to balance and turn on the mono-ski.  It looked fiendishly difficult balancing on one ski, but she was not daunted.  There were plenty of splats, but the snow was soft, the humour was flowing (as were promises of hot chocolates afterwards) and by the end of the week Zelda was starting to master the turns.  We are now counting down the days until the new brochure comes out so we can choose the resort where Zelda will continue to hone her technique – seriously - as she is convinced that she is going to ski in a future paralympic team!
 
There is no doubt that skiing with DSUK has changed Zelda’s life.  She absolutely loves the freedom it gives her, the rush of adrenalin and the sense of achievement at descending a mountain at incredible speed.  It is a sport she can excel at and it has given her dramatically increased confidence, independence and fitness.  We have made many fantastic friends who we remain in contact with and the DSUK team has become an extended family.  The camaraderie is really special – as a parent of a disabled child it is wonderful to share confidences with others as well as sharing responsibility – everyone seems to work well as a team and takes collective responsibility on the trips. 
 
Apart from changing our lives, DSUK has also changed my skiing technique.  Last year in Austria I suddenly lost my skiing confidence.  I just didn’t seem able to do it any more after a particularly long, difficult and icy descent.  I spoke to one of the instructors who suggested that one of the skiers, Michael, who has Down’s, might be able to help me.  Nervously I watched as Michael, who is an amazing Elvis impersonator, threw my sticks to one side at the top of the mountain and beckoned me to bend forward and put my hands on my backside.  I copied him, hesitantly, and found myself gliding down the mountain with this miraculous new technique that gave me instant balance and confidence, while copying his increasingly hilarious dance moves down the slopes.  I only fell over at the bottom because I was laughing so much.  I am really hoping that I am going to find Michael on a future trip.  Not only is he a fantastic skiing instructor, but his Elvis impressions are strangely addictive.
 
Although skiing is often perceived as an elite sport, it is in fact the opposite.  It is completely democratic; every skier becomes part of the mountain and is equal to the mountain.  It is moving beyond words to see people who might have difficulty getting around or expressing themselves on solid ground becoming graceful, agile and confident as soon as they are on snow.  Zelda can quite happily deal with school sports days, knowing that despite the fact that she is unlikely to win any prizes, she can ski with the very best.  We can only hope that we can keep up with her in future, as there is every chance that she is going to be out-manoeuvring us all.
© Beverley Crew August 2011

And...a little note from Zelda herself!
Attention:THIS HOLIDAY HAS BEEN THE BEST WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was the first time I learned to mono-ski!!!!!!!! I kept on falling over and having lots of laughs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But by the end of the week, I was skiing really well!!!!! The instructors and helpers knew exactly how to deal with lots and lots of disabilities, so that is why I would DEFINITELY recommend it!!!!!!!  I met lots of friendly people. They were lovely!!!!!!         
The hotel was a 4* hotel with lovely food and service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thank you to everyone who helped me go on this holiday.



Love from Zelda Crew-Williams xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


If you're interested in coming on a trip or just want to find out more, please email us on admin@disabilitysnowsport.org.uk but be quick...spaces are very limited now and filling up fast!

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