Jayne tackles the bi-ski, tethering and her first 'tree run'

It turned out to be a week of firsts for me too. Earlier this week I was down at Sugarbush for my regular 2-3 days a week with Vermont Adaptive and got the chance to learn some new techniques...

Thursday's client was really quite badly disabled so we took her out in the bi-ski (bucket seat and frame mounted on two fixed skis) - she can't control it herself but loves to feel the speed of it when you push her along. It's pretty much a case of skiing along and steering a big sled in front of you at the same time. It was interesting to have a go but kind of hard on me back (must be me age!). Getting on and off the lifts with a bi-ski is quite an art too. No disasters tho' thank goodness!

Friday's client was a sweet kid with autism - he gives the greatest hugs :) He's pretty much non-verbal so communication is mostly visual... I spent a lot of the time running backwards down the slope (not easy in ski boots) so he could 'catch me'. Turns out he likes to ski with his eyes closed (oh dear) so I had my first experience with tethering. It works kind of like long-reining a horse, with the tethers attached to the front of the skis. It's useful to help the clients learn balance and control etc without setting them loose on the slope, which of course could be quite hazardous in more ways than one ;)

So, Thursday turned out to be another beautiful sunny day and conditions on the mountain were the best so far this season... plus hardly anyone else was up there :)) After my morning adaptive session I headed to the summit and took a few splendid runs before meeting up with Cheryl (fellow Brit and VASS volunteer). She snowboards and does more extreme stuff than I'm used to, so it was fun to take up her challenge of doing a 'tree run'. If it's not obvious this is where you duck off piste into the woods that line each trail... oh dear...

It started out pretty well: into the trees, down a dip, up and around and... oops... no brakes... the gap between trees is too narrow to wedge it or side slip... it's kind of like a gully so, errm, yes... that would be me in a heap of powder with only one ski left on :) Hehehe - couldn't stop giggling. Carried on by grabbing tree trunks and twirling myself slingshot stylee. Very poor tree running technique me thinks, but it was GREAT fun! Popped out onto a familiar run and went back up to have another go. More success this time since I knew what to expect - faster with no falls or slingshots!

I'll be back at the mountain later this week as usual so maybe I'll have more to report next w/e.

DON'T FORGET... if any of this is tempting you skiers, boarders or wannabes just drop us a line and get your goodselves out here while the snow's so good!!

- Jayne