Winter is almost here, a time that’s often insidious for people with motoric issues: icy temperatures, snow and pouring rain aren’t exactly “best friends” for who daily has to deal with physical issues. What are you saying? “If only we could distract and enjoy skiing or dedicate to winter sports!”. Well, I’ve good news for you: using some precaution and a little bit of training, even who has a motoric or sensory disability can speed on snow, thanks to various types of handiski, a skiing variant that, using specific techniques and various supports, is suitable for everyone needs, regardless of the specific disability: even paraplegic people can do it!

The number of plants paying attention to accessibility for handicapped people is increasing. They enable who has a disability to learn skiing, aiming also to accompany the best “equipped” to a preparation level allowing them to participate in the Winter Paralympic Games.  For instance, in the province of Reggio Emilia, the “Lupi di Civago” Ski Club organizes training courses with specifically trained instructors, addressed to people with motoric or sensory disability; in these years, it has also trained athletes who tested themselves in the Winter Paralympic Games.

In Folgaria, near Trento, thanks to the “Scie di passione” (“Wakes of passion”) project, even people with a disability can participate in dedicated ski lessons, with trained instructors (including a disabled one), who use also tools such as dual-ski, mono-ski, bass-board (a special snowboard, designed for people with motoric disability), to allow everyone enjoying winter sports (including cross-country skiing) and benefiting from accessible shelters. Furthermore, in Trentino, Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont and Lombardy, skiers with disability and their companions can benefit from high discounts on the skipass price.

Then, why giving up a priori? Through some research and organizing betimes, everyone can have fun on the snow!