Disabled Snowsports NZ Newsletter - March 2007
Index
Editor's NoteMy Adventure of a Lifetime with Outward Bound
Kiwi Skiers on Form in the US this Summer
3 Great Reasons to Join DSNZ
Upcoming Events
Disabled Snowsports Festival & National Championships
Help us to Promote DSNZ
TV stars with Attitude
Printable Version
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Editor's Note
It's hard to think about skiing when its 30 degrees outside and so sunny and hot . but daylight saving has just arrived, followed by our favourite season, winter.This is the first of our pre-season newsletters giving you a taste of the events planned for 2007 and some great insights into what three of our members have been up to this summer.
It is time to check out our membership packages for 2007 and it is also time for us here at the National Office to sharpen our pencils and see what benefits we can bring you for 2007 to ensure you have some great skiing and boarding experiences this year.
See you soon Claire. Libby & Frankie
My Adventure of a Lifetime with Outward Bound
By Craig Stothers, Canterbury Branch
I attended the Starlight course at Outward Bound from February 12th to 20th, after reading an e-mail on the course from Claire, CEO of Disabled Snow Sports.On arrival at Picton we all met. 7 guys from the North Island, 1 from Nelson, and myself from Rangiora. 3 suffered from spina bifida, 2 in wheelchairs, 3 amputees and myself. Plus 3 Instructors and 2 helpers.
It was a very intensive 8 days doing some amazing things - Sailing and rowing a cutter; Rafting - after building our raft - most fell off; Rope work on the high wire; Tramping; Camping out; and of course - Solo (24 hours alone in the bush). The Starlight course is about pushing personal boundaries both physically and mentally, and the activities are designed to challenge people at all levels.
We all learnt how with team work, you can achieve so much. What I have achieved will remain with me. They say it is a life changing experience, and I certainly believe it is.
We all helped each other to achieve what we could not do by ourselves, and we had lots of fun doing it. I arrived home very tired, and very happy. I would recommend others from Disabled Snowsports consider going when the Starlight course comes up again. I would even love to go again at some time in the future.
Rangiora Lions supported me with a very large donation towards the costs, which made my trip possible.
Kiwi Skiers on Form in the US this Summer
Otago Paralympian Adam Hall has finished his season with a win at the prestigious Wells Fargo World Disabled Invitational at Winter Park USA .Hall, who won this race two years ago, added this win and three slalom medals to his tally this year, returning home with silver and bronze medals from the North American Series and bronze from the Far East Cup in Korea.
This has been a record season for the New Zealander, which has seen him climb rapidly up the world rankings. He is currently ranked 15th from 39th in the world for giant slalom and 19th from 36th in slalom. "He is the most determined athlete in our team. Probably as far as commitment and determination go, he's one of the best in the world," said his coach at Winter Park, Hiro Taniguchi. "That's why he steps up huge every year even though this is only his third year on skis. He is very proud of being kiwi and represents NZ pretty good."
On returning to their training base after competing in the IPC Far East Cup held at Kangwon Land in Korea. Hall said his 2006 Paralympic experience was important. "Torino was a huge learning curve for me and it has changed my attitude towards skiing, it's all about how bad you want it, to get results."
Adam believes "all the time in the gym and with the Winter Park team, having physio and massage has helped maintain my body condition and fitness and it is paying off." His training regime includes an early morning gym session, full day's training and evening gym recovery session.
Peter Williams from Auckland, a mono-skier who also has Spina Bifida, enjoyed his first full northern winter season and is starting to show some good form, achieving a fifth placing in the slalom at the North American Meridian Cup and 13th in his first international giant slalom at the Korean Far East Cup.
We look forward to seeing their form back on the NZ slopes this winter and at the Cardrona National Championships in late July.
3 Great Reasons to Join DSNZ
Up to 50% off lift passes, adaptive equipment hire & lessons at mountains around the country.Up to 20% discount at winter retail shops.
Support from you local branch
Click here to get to our membership web pages or here to download a membership form.
Upcoming Events
The first issue of our calendar for 2007 contains events relevant to all our members, not just events run by DSNZ. Please contact the event organisers to confirm dates and availability of activities you are interested in. Remember to keep checking our online events calendar for updates.Disabled Snowsports Festival & National Championships
22-27 July 2007, Cardrona Alpine Resort Wanaka
Book in your diary NOW!!
The highlight of our season! This week long extravaganza is a celebration of adaptive snowsports and is jam packed with activities for the beginner to advanced skier and boarder. We offer social riders of all ages the chance to improve their technique in a fun and supportive environment, whilst the more competitive get a chance to prove their abilities in a series of social and elite race events. Friends, family and supporters are welcome to join in the fun.
Help us to Promote DSNZ
We are planning a significant promotional campaign to raise awareness of DSNZ and adaptive snowsports. Why? So that we can encourage more people to participate and to expand the equipment, programmes, events and resources available to our members. The promotion campaign will link in with a fundraising campaign which will raise the necessary funds to support our members and our organisation as it grows.
Member Profiles
Would you like to be a face of Disabled Snowsports? We want to let people know who you are and what adaptive snowsports is all about. Profiles like this are really important to help us get funding to run programmes, buy equipment and to ask for donations. We would like to form a series of member profiles for use in promotions from a wide range of people. This would involve answering short list of questions for a profile on you, and some photos of you and you skiing/ boarding. If you can help please contact Libby at the National Office - we need you .
Promotion & Fundraising Campaigns
Do you have expertise in marketing / fundraising / printing? DSNZ needs to get a promotional and annual giving campaign into action. We have some exciting ideas. We need your pro bono help to do it.
Help us by Contributing
Volunteer
All our branches and mountain programmes are looking for volunteers on and off snow this season. Contact your local branch - they would love your help