Features

Stefan enjoying a run

Stefan with instructor Thierry Guigonnet

Ben preparing for his first go on a sitski

There have been major developments in the last few years, and now it is a common sight to see a disabled skier enjoying the freedom and exhilaration of a day on the slopes. Watch my report.

For Stefan my brother, skiing has changed his life.  He is a disabled child who never lets his disabilities get in the way.  Before we discovered handiski, he used to be left at home when the family went skiing, but now he is also able to join in with the excitement that the slopes bring to thousands each year.

However, our experiences vary in different ski resorts, and even within one ski area.  Les Trois Vallees, the world’s largest ski area, has 3 different lift companies managing the 183 lifts.  In the Vallee des Belleville, Setam and Sevabel manage the lifts of St Martin de Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens.  In the past few years, they have adapted most of the ski lifts to make then accessible for disabled skiers.

Last summer, Les Menuires completed the programme, fitting a ramp to replace the steps on the last gondola. What more can be expected of the resort?

In the other two valleys, one company, S3V manages the lifts in Meribel and Courchevel.  But the attitude to disabled skiers is markedly different between the two valleys. In Meribel there are only 9 lifts that can’t be accessed by disabled skiers, whilst in Courchevel there are 25.

Like Val Thorens, Meribel has invested in special trolleys to allow disabled skiers to access the bubbles.

The manager of S3V told me, "Courchevel tries really hard to welcome disabled people" and that "each year more lifts are made disabled accessible". Yet on comparison of both this and last year’s piste maps it becomes apparent that no more lifts are open for the disabled.

Thierry Guigonnet, disabled ski instructor for ESF Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville, who has been supporting disabled skiers for 15 years, told me how the ski school now has 8 different types of ski chairs for disabled skiers. His job is made much harder when the lifts are unable to transport the chair.

Now all one can do is a wait and see if Courchevel do keep to there promise to open more lifts for next season, however if this season is anything to go by slow progress is being made.