Snow sports offered at Activate Inclusion Sports Day for the first time

Snow Australia and Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA) were able to offer snow sports for the first time at the Sport NSW Activate Inclusion Sports Day, organised in Canberra last week.

The event is designed to provide students with a disability aged 5-18 the opportunity to experience mainstream sports in a positive and inclusive environment. Along with Baseball, Cricket, Hockey, Netball and Goalball, Snow Australia and DWA presented the popular Little Shredders and Little Gliders programs, which provide the opportunity for students to learn the basics of snow sports using custom-made modified equipment.

Little Shredders uses modified snowboards and balance-boards to teach the basics of snowboarding, while Little Gliders uses light, strap-on skis that can be used on snow, carpet, grass or synthetic grass.

Activities conducted during the event included introductions to classic and skate skiing, downhill techniques such as tucking and slalom, synchronised skiing and obstacle courses. While these programs are already on offer to participating schools across the state, the Activate Inclusion Sports Day specifically targets students with a disability, who may otherwise have no exposure to snow sport.

Additionally, Snow Australia showcased specific adaptive equipment provided by DWA, such as a sit-ski that was set up in front of TV screens playing point-of-view skiing footage of a World Cup ski run. This ‘virtual’ sit-skiing experience was targeted at children who required more support and was controlled by Snow Australia Development Athlete and sit skier Josh Hanlon, who tilted, bumped and moved the sit-ski to match the motion on the screen. The ‘virtual sit-ski’ was a huge hit to everyone who tried it out.

Unlike other sports on offer at Activate Inclusion Sports Day, snow sports can be done alongside able-bodied friends and family members and is not necessarily team or club based.  This was an attractive incentive for many of the participants and prospective adaptive snow goers.

Snow Australia would like to extend a big thank you to all the schools and children who attended the day. We know you had a great time at the event and hope to see you all on the snow sometime soon. Thank you also to DWA for providing support and adaptive equipment for the day, to Chrissy Richardson, Angela Pope, Ursina Kradolfer and Josh Hanlon who all volunteered their time for the day, and last but not least to Rae Anderson and Murray Elbourn from Disability Sports Australia.

The Activate Inclusion Sports Day events are proudly supported by Variety - the NSW/ACT Children's Charity - and delivered by Disability Sports Australia to all students with a sensory, physical or intellectual disability free of charge. More information, along with all the upcoming Activate Inclusion Sports Days, is available on www.sportnsw.com.au.

Snow Australia will have representation at some of the upcoming Paralympics Australia Come and Try Days scheduled around Australia. For more information please visit https://www.paralympic.org.au/get-involved/.