PlanetSKI Goes Adaptive Skiing
6th February 2024
Last modified on February 9th, 2024
In 2015 our reporter Clare Meaney was the victim of a hit-&-run accident in Val-d’Isere. She suffered a badly broken leg, & then a brain haemorrhage. Clare is now back on snow, in a sit-ski.
My accident was a tragedy as a hit-and-run skier did his worst.
He hit me at speed from behind and then pretended he was going to get help.
But in reality, he skied off never to be found again.
Clare Meaney accident
I wrote about the experience at the time for PlanetSKI.
I have been back on snow but it has never been the same, and now I’m trying adapative skiing.
Image c/o Clare Meaney
Adaptive skiing has become more popular than ever in recent years.
Thanks to modern technology, and a shift in attitudes, the slopes are becoming more and more accessible for those skiers who might need a little help.
Earlier this season I was in Chamonix to find out what adaptive skiing is all about.
Living with the limitations of a brain haemorrhage, is quite a challenge in itself.
You would therefore think that learning to ski again would be a breeze?
Well, I’ve attempted skiing a few times since my “annus horribilis”, but the only thing it did was scare the living daylights out of myself.
Maybe with the help of an instructor, I might just see things in a different light?
I arranged to meet with Antoine Regnard, who is not only an ESF instructor but he is also a “Handiski” instructor.
Image c/o Clare Meaney
He explained that the aim of adaptive skiing is to make skiing accessible to everyone, regardless of their disability or injury.
He explained that it is important to remember that every skier is unique.
The instructor’s role is to let everyone have fun and let everyone enjoy the magic of the mountains.
With the disabilities I have, it seemed likely that a Sit Ski would be the one for me to try.
Antoine explained that people who might usually use a wheelchair or people who found it difficult to stand or balance should try this one first.
I felt it was an easy decision for me.
With my state of mind, I needed all the help I could get.
Getting in the Sit Ski couldn’t be easier.
Once I was strapped into the seat, Antoine placed his skis in position and off we went to the chairlift.
Once the lift came to a standstill, Antoine pulled me into position and away we went.
I was slightly nervous and talked incessantly.
The beauty of the scenery soon calmed me down.
I was about to experience the biggest thrill of my skiing career.
Antoine took it easy to begin with but he knew that I wanted some fun.
Halfway down the slope the speed was phenomenal.
It really was like a fair ground ride.
But in a nice way.
I went the whole way down without a care in the world.
I knew that even if I could never actually ski again there would always be someone who would take pleasure in doing it for me.
Uni ski and bi skis allow you to take control as and when you’re ready.
It’s easy to sit in one but you have to learn to balance.
To begin with Antoine skied behind me while I enjoyed the independence of using the outriggers.
Very soon, with enough practice, I felt I would be able to use these metal elbow crutches to help my balance and to give some support.
Image c/o Clare Meaney
I was feeling almost elated that I had discovered that even with help, there would always be ways to discover the beauty of the mountains.
Antoine gave me back a little bit of control.
I have started to adapt.
With the confidence I’ve gained I feel free to adapt just a little bit more.
With the sense of freedom once again, it is exciting to think of what my future might hold.
It gave me an insight to a whole new world.
Image c/o Clare Meaney
