Ice Escapades

By Jaclyn Law

When the mercury drops and a chill creeps into the air, many of us retreat indoors, determined to hibernate until the snow melts. That’s too bad, because there’s a host of exciting sports that can make winter a lot more fun. Why not try something new this year? Read on to learn about cold-weather adaptive sports and how to get started. Also, check out “Feel the Rush,” the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s campaign to get more Canadians involved in adaptive sports, at www.paralympic.ca/feeltherush/.

Don't let all that good snow go to waste – hit the slopes! People with various disabilities can enjoy alpine or cross-country skiing with the assistance of adaptive equipment, such as sit-skis or bi-skis, and/or volunteers to help navigate the hills. The sport offers both physical and mental benefits.

“It’s an activity that gives you freedom that otherwise might not be able to be experienced,” says Mike Sinclair, an amputee in Toronto who has been participating in adaptive skiing for about 11 years.

The Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS) is an excellent resource. This national organization offers affordable learn-to-ski programs at ski clubs across the country with the help of nearly 2,000 volunteers. “I absolutely recommend CADS. There’s probably no other way to start, as you can’t just go out and get the equipment on your own,” says Sinclair. “The skiing organizations have them. When I started, it was totally at my pace. They weren’t trying to push me to do anything I was uncomfortable with.”

Each of CADS’ divisions and programs is run slightly differently. While programs are inexpensive and generally include instruction, gear rental and lift tickets, you’ll need a few other things to start skiing (or snowboarding): transportation to and from the ski club, cold-weather clothing, and money for lunch, snacks and a hot chocolate in the ski chalet after your lessons.

ADAPTIVE SNOWBOARDING

Snowboarding is skiing’s wild younger sibling, and it’s growing fast. Ask anyone who snowboards, and he or she will likely tell you they love the freedom of movement the sport provides. “I think if the whole planet were to snowboard, it would be a fun place to live,” says Christian Hrab, director of program development at the Canadian Snowboard Federation (CSF). “We want to make sure it’s available for people with a physical disability.”

Currently, people who can stand and those who have visual disabilities can snowboard. The sport is not yet available to people who want to sit as they snowboard. “We’d love to offer it,” says Hrab. “Once we start getting some interest, we aim to do some research, development and tests, and work with sit-snowboarders.”

If you want to try this sport, look for the terrific introductory and recreational adaptive programs through ski clubs affiliated with the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS). Already have some skills? “If you are a snowboarder already and you’re pretty confident going down a blue slope or you like moving fast, then let’s talk about competition,” says Hrab.

The CSF hopes that a lot of adaptive snowboarders will come out to its events this season. It has also developed the Canadian Adaptive Snowboarding Program (CASP) for 2007/08 to encourage the growth of the adaptive snowboarding community and recruit competitors. CASP features athlete development camps, competitions and training opportunities for coaches. (All coaches trained through CSF learn to work with adaptive snowboarders.) Hrab says that the CSF would love to see adaptive snowboarding become a Paralympic event, and the more snowboarders there are who compete at events, the more likely this is to become a reality. So far, Hrab says, adaptive snowboarders have told the CSF that they are happy with the inclusion of adaptive snowboarding in its programs. “Everybody is really stoked, really happy with our fully integrated approach.”
WHEELCHAIR CURLING

You should "Hurry!" to try wheelchair curling, a great sport that people of all abilities can enjoy together. “Age is no barrier and there’s little if any equipment to buy,” says Eric Eales, a long-time player who runs the website wheelchaircurling.com.

Here’s how the game works: Curlers use delivery sticks (long sticks with a bracket on the end) to push the rocks (each about 19 kilograms) down a 45- metre sheet of ice. Team members take turns throwing the rocks from behind a “hogline” at one end of the ice to the “house” at the other end. The goal is to have more rocks closer to the “button,” or centre of the house, than the opposing team. Another way to play is the “stick curling” format, which is a two-person team game with little or no sweeping. “You are either throwing or skipping, so there’s not as much sitting around waiting for your next turn,” explains Eales.

The Canadian Curling Association is promoting wheelchair curling across the country as part of its Discover Curling program. (For info, call 1-800-550-2875, ext. 106.) “Some provincial curling associations run programs for wheelchair curlers, which is good,” says Eales, “but don’t wait for a program – get out there and do it yourself.”

Look for curling rinks in your area. If they don’t offer wheelchair curling, suggest it – often, all that’s required is a ramp to get onto the ice and a few delivery sticks (available at sporting goods there is a demand for wheelchair access before they will spend money providing it, and that means wheelchair users must make themselves known,” says Eales. “All the club managers I know have been friendly and accommodating.”
SLEDGE HOCKEY

Get your game on by checking out sledge hockey, a fast-paced, dynamic sport that is sure to get your heart pumping harder. Invented in the 1960s at a Swedish rehabilitation centre, sledge hockey (also called sled hockey) involves five players plus a goalie on each team, all sitting on modified metal sleds with two hockey skate blades attached to the bottom.

Players shoot, pass and propel themselves using two sticks with laser-cut spikes on the end. The rink size and rules are the same as for traditional hockey. Sledge hockey debuted at the Paralympic Games in 1994.

While not as prevalent as adaptive skiing, sledge hockey is on the rise – helped, no doubt, by the success of Canada’s National Men’s Sledge Hockey Team. They consistently haul home gold medals from international competitions, including the 2006 Paralympic Games in Turin, Italy.

To learn about sledge hockey’s history and equipment and how to get involved, visit Hockey Canada’s website (see below). Before beginning any new exercise program, speak to your physician.