Green Mountain Adaptive Sports, Northeast Disabled Athletic Association, and Craftsbury Outdoor Center (COC) partnered during this past March to present an adaptive Nordic ski clinic to familiarize local cross country ski instructors with equipment and approaches to coaching skiers with spinal cord injuries, double leg and single leg amputations, and other mobility challenges.
Patrick Standen, a seasoned Nordic ski coach of Northeast Disabled Athletic Association in Burlington generously lead the clinic.
Patrick Standen demonstrates how he transfers from his wheelchair to his sit ski.
In attendance were fifteen COC coaches and staff, a coach from Trapp Family Outdoor Center and Stowe Mountain Touring Center each, and a handful of GMAS members.
The clinic focused on providing instructional material, reviewing various techniques, and increasing general knowledge about adaptive Nordic skiing and equipment. The coaches were also invited to try the equipment.
“Patrick’s clinics are a great learning opportunity for those involved in helping more people access cross country skiing. Trying out different types of sit skis was fun and informative and we are excited to be involved in creating more opportunities in adaptive sports,” says Davis Sutherland, Nordic Center Coordinator at COC.
COC Staff gets to try the adaptive equipment.
“The knowledge gained from this clinic will empower the instructors to be able to better provide opportunities for cross country skiing for individuals with disabilities,” adds Amy Marshall, a retired Consulting Teacher and Special Educator and member of the GMAS Board of Directors.
Standen also generously donated a Nordic sit ski to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and one to be shared by the two Stowe Nordic centers.
This is the first event partnered with Craftsbury Center, with hopefully others in the near future.
Patrick Standen poses with GMAS Board members who attended the clinic.
“This is just the beginning of GMAS’s outreach to other communities. GMAS and Metro Rock have been in contact to see how the GMAS’s Adaptive Rock Climbing program can be expanded to Burlington, as well as our partnership with Stowe Rock at Stowe Mountain Resort as soon as that is opened again,” continues Marshall.
Stay tuned for more news of GMAS partnerships, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to work with GMAS to start an adaptive program at your facility, or if you are looking for adaptive programs to join in Vermont.