It's been a mild Winter and I was worried that there wouldn't be any snow, but Laura assured me there would be snow on the mountain. And there was! The mountain loomed above us as Karen pulled into the parking lot. Karen is my sweet driver who is cautious and always follows rules. She's fun to chat with and tells me about her family and her career as a bus driver.
Inside I find Crotched Mountain Adaptive Sports (CMARS) and see that Laura is already suited up and ready to be put into her ski. My friend Laura is a quadriplegic and needs to be hoisted over. It took 3 people to lift me and a 4th to move the wheelchair out from underneath me and then to position the ski in its place. I was also able to wriggle myself from side to side to straighten out my hips, something Laura isn't able to do. They tried to align her, but she said afterward that she felt off the whole day. Sometimes it's hard to get your hips straightened when you can't move your hips.
Now up the mountain we go! I've got Dave and Bill with me, two men who like to ski and like to talk. They appreciate that I can talk to, as many of the people they help are non-verbal. So I tell them about my work, how I became paralyzed, give them a clue about what seems scary to me, and what I'm physically able to do. The lift approaches slowly from behind and they lift me, one on either side, we set gently in the seat and pull the bar down.
Now on top of the mountain we pause. Our guides are discussing which run to take and in a flash, there goes Laura. See you at the bottom of the hill girlfriend!
This wasn't my first time skiing, so I wasn't as scared, but that initial whoosh down the mountain is thrilling! You know you're going fast down a steep slope, and even though I'm seated and don't have as far to fall, I can still wipe out, and we almost did! Dave was tethered behind me and would call out left or right and I would lean my body left or right to move the ski and change direction, but the snow was icy in patches and made it difficult to maneuver. There was more than once I didn't think I would be able to come up from a lean, but Dave kept me steady and we made sure not to go down that run again.
During one run I noticed that Laura was not only leaning her body, but putting her arms out as she leaned. I tried that too and was told I have good form and next time I should try the outriggers, my own tiny skis. How cute. I've never been an athlete, and I don't know the terminology, but I feel good about how I did, my skill, and ability to adapt to this sport. It was a lot of fun!
I'll never forget my first time and how my field of vision opened up a little wider each time I went on a run. The exhilaration and rush of the pull of gravity, the beauty of the mountains, the "I'm doing it!" feel of it all. But this time I had more confidence and I took a more active part in it. I feel fortunate to have the ability and opportunity.
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