ANNOUNCE: Amputee Ski Biking
Karl Entenmann
Description
Collection
Title:
ANNOUNCE: Amputee Ski Biking
Creator:
Karl Entenmann
Date:
2/4/2007
Text:
Hello Esteemed Colleagues,
Have any of you heard of ski biking? I had not until one of our
patients,
J. Weil, who is also an ACA peer advisor, came in all excited about
this
sport. It's basically mountian bikes with skis. Greg Davidson, CPO
and J.
Weil have both ski biked quite a bit last winter and they are putting
together a ski bike training session this winter near Seattle. Any
amputees or clinicians who might be interested can contact me, J. Weil
or
Greg Davidson, CPO for further information. No clinic advertising or
coersion will be allowed by my company or any other participant. This
is
strictly for fun and not for business. A larger ski bike festival
will be
held in Colorado this winter. Below are letters from J. and the
fellow in
CO.
Karl Entenmann, CPO
Greg Davidson, CPO
Preferred O and P
Federal Way, WA
(253) 952-3887
OUT OF THE BLUE.... Roy Meiworm the director of the
5th
annual ski-bike festival in Durango, CO. He has been kind and
encouraging
in my efforts to create a ski-bike school for amputees. Roy knows
and
respects Ron who has attended the event 3 times. Ron and I have
elected to
attend the festival sometime between February 21-25. Roy is serious
about
conducting the first adaptive sports ski-bike race as part of the
festival. Read the attached e-mail about Roy's dedication to this
event.
Mind you, the event is for ski-bikers and venders and the adaptive
race is
just one of the festival features. The attachment I have included is
a
letter from Scott Kelley, Griz. He is the former adaptive sports
director of Durango Mountain.
I HAVE A DREAM, Roy has offered to help us find very inexpensive
lodging
and he will offer super prices on the lift-tickets. I know by late
February we could encourage more than a few amputee ski-bikers and
some
normies to join us. We cannot wait until early February to commit.
I
have a full festival schedule I will bring to the office tomorrow. I
must
obtain the addresses and telephone numbers of amputees that may want
to
join our ski-bike school. I need to send the likely participants my
introductory e-mail package. I will wait to introduce the festival.
We
need to get as many ski-biker amputees addicted to this sport before
the
festival. I am agar to show the ski-bike community and the amputee
community that we are dedicated to introducing the ski-bike as an
adaptive
device.
I am going to depend on Greg an Carl to help me develop interest in
your
amputee patients. Let's make this happen, Durango is a resort town
close
to the NM border. The event is known as PURGATORY INTERNATIONAL
SKI-BIKE
FESTIVAL. Do a Google search and you will be encouraged to
participate, if
enough of your patients go you could probably write it off.
All this is happening smoothly, as it is supposed to be... pal, j
J Weil
AMPUTEE ADVOCATES
253-839-2831
----- Original Message ----- From: Roy Meiworm
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 5:02 PM
Subject: Howdy
Hi J,
My good friend Scott Kelly Griz has just resigned from the
Adaptive
Sports Program here at Durango Mountain Resort and before he left he
emailed me this letter to use when I'm talking to other ski area's. He
said
you could use it if you needed it. I hope you don't mind, but I've
been
bragging about you down here.
I would still like to work something out with you regarding the
festival
this season. Like I mentioned earlier I was already planning on
introducing the adaptive side of ski-biking this season with Griz's
help
from the Adaptive Sport Program but now that he is leaving I could use
some
help. There are a coupe of other instructors from the Adaptive Sports
crew
that really enjoy using ski-bikes but they don't have the contacts
around
the country like Griz had. They said they would be willing to help. J,
I'm
already going to have the Duel Slalom and the Multi Course setup and
reserved just for the festival that we could use to put on the 1st
Annual
National Adaptive Sports Ski-bike Race or what ever you would like to
call
it, I'm open. If you go to any ski area in the country or the world it
would cost you a fortune to close a course and have sno-cats come in
and
build a special course just for your event. BUT, I could offer it for
free
at Durango Mountain Resort. How can I do that you say? I'm also the
cat
driver that builds the
course for the festival so I donate my time. My department owns are
own
sno-cat that I use to clear snow away from the lifts that I use to
build
the courses. If I had to call in the other sno-cats to build these
special
courses they would charge me $1500 - $2000. Then the Race Department
wants
money for closing the courses to the public. But again I have worked
out a
deal with them not to charge me anymore. This is a great opportunity
to put
on a national event for little to no money at all, it's already done.
All
we have to do is add it to my event calender and start promoting it.
The
only thing I can think of that might cost some money are the awards.
I
just need someone to take lead on this and I think you would be
perfect for
it. That's what Griz was going to do for me before he resigned. This
festival is the largest event in North America. It already has a great
reputation and everyone already knows it's going on every year. Please
think about it? All
of your friends around the country would have until the end of
February to
learn how to ride at their own resorts and then they could all meet up
at
the festival and ride together at one area at one time. How cool would
that
be, I would love to see that come together. That would be a great goal
for
a lot of people. Don't you think? Your friends would also have the
opportunity to check out all of the ski-bike manufactures that attend
the
festival. It's really the only place in the world I've been told that
you
can test ride so many ski-bikes in one place, just ask Ron. We could
plan
this every year from now on or change resorts each year depending on
costs.
I send a letter out every year to every ski area in the country that
allows
ski-bikes inviting them to the festival. I plan on mailing these out
by the
end of October. If we could put a plan together by then I could send
out
the same letter to all of the adaptive sports programs inviting them
to
join us
also. Let me know what you think? If we can't do it here, just let me
know
what I can do to help somewhere else.
Take care my friend!
Roy Meiworm
970-759-1046
P.S. I'm not sure if I've told you or not, but the Canadian
Discovery
Channel will be here covering the festival this year. Could be some
good
air time for ya. I should have some other media coverage here also.
September 6, 2006
To Whom It May Concern:
The Adaptive Sports Association, a ski & ride school for people
with
disabilities, began using ski bikes as an adaptive tool during the
2004-2005 winter season. Since then we have increased the quantity and
quality of our instructor training, and have found many applications
for
ski bikes which increase the diversity and depth of our program.
Traditionally, adaptive programs have had difficulty finding
appropriate accessible skiing for people whose disabilities prevent
them
from walking well but do not use a wheelchair. In the past the choices
have
been limited to 4-tracking and mono-skiing. 4-track skiing is done
standing
on two skis with outriggers, similar to crutches with small skis on
them.
The mono-ski is a sit-down piece of equipment, most appropriate for
paraplegics. It feels very restrictive to those who do not use
wheelchairs.
Both 4-tracking and mono-skiing are difficult to learn and the process
is
typically exhausting.
Ski bikes have done an incredible job of filling this gap and
providing
another avenue for people with disabilities to get on the snow. Our
greatest successes have been with students with Multiple Sclerosis.
Often
they have struggled with 4-tracking, finding it difficult and
exhausting.
We knew we were on the right track that first winter. We were working
with
two women with MS who had been struggling for three days to learn
4-tracking. They were still a long way from leaving the beginner area
when
we decided to try ski bikes. The rapid success was amazing. After two
quick
runs at the beginner area, the women were both able to venture to the
top
of the mountain and ride all the way down, one of them completely
independently.
Ski bikes have opened new doors of possibility for many with
disabilities. It is an exciting sport which shows great promise for
many,
many people regardless of ability or disability.
Sincerely,
Scott Griz Kelley
Program Director
Adaptive Sports Association
Durango, CO
Have any of you heard of ski biking? I had not until one of our
patients,
J. Weil, who is also an ACA peer advisor, came in all excited about
this
sport. It's basically mountian bikes with skis. Greg Davidson, CPO
and J.
Weil have both ski biked quite a bit last winter and they are putting
together a ski bike training session this winter near Seattle. Any
amputees or clinicians who might be interested can contact me, J. Weil
or
Greg Davidson, CPO for further information. No clinic advertising or
coersion will be allowed by my company or any other participant. This
is
strictly for fun and not for business. A larger ski bike festival
will be
held in Colorado this winter. Below are letters from J. and the
fellow in
CO.
Karl Entenmann, CPO
Greg Davidson, CPO
Preferred O and P
Federal Way, WA
(253) 952-3887
OUT OF THE BLUE.... Roy Meiworm the director of the
5th
annual ski-bike festival in Durango, CO. He has been kind and
encouraging
in my efforts to create a ski-bike school for amputees. Roy knows
and
respects Ron who has attended the event 3 times. Ron and I have
elected to
attend the festival sometime between February 21-25. Roy is serious
about
conducting the first adaptive sports ski-bike race as part of the
festival. Read the attached e-mail about Roy's dedication to this
event.
Mind you, the event is for ski-bikers and venders and the adaptive
race is
just one of the festival features. The attachment I have included is
a
letter from Scott Kelley, Griz. He is the former adaptive sports
director of Durango Mountain.
I HAVE A DREAM, Roy has offered to help us find very inexpensive
lodging
and he will offer super prices on the lift-tickets. I know by late
February we could encourage more than a few amputee ski-bikers and
some
normies to join us. We cannot wait until early February to commit.
I
have a full festival schedule I will bring to the office tomorrow. I
must
obtain the addresses and telephone numbers of amputees that may want
to
join our ski-bike school. I need to send the likely participants my
introductory e-mail package. I will wait to introduce the festival.
We
need to get as many ski-biker amputees addicted to this sport before
the
festival. I am agar to show the ski-bike community and the amputee
community that we are dedicated to introducing the ski-bike as an
adaptive
device.
I am going to depend on Greg an Carl to help me develop interest in
your
amputee patients. Let's make this happen, Durango is a resort town
close
to the NM border. The event is known as PURGATORY INTERNATIONAL
SKI-BIKE
FESTIVAL. Do a Google search and you will be encouraged to
participate, if
enough of your patients go you could probably write it off.
All this is happening smoothly, as it is supposed to be... pal, j
J Weil
AMPUTEE ADVOCATES
253-839-2831
----- Original Message ----- From: Roy Meiworm
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 5:02 PM
Subject: Howdy
Hi J,
My good friend Scott Kelly Griz has just resigned from the
Adaptive
Sports Program here at Durango Mountain Resort and before he left he
emailed me this letter to use when I'm talking to other ski area's. He
said
you could use it if you needed it. I hope you don't mind, but I've
been
bragging about you down here.
I would still like to work something out with you regarding the
festival
this season. Like I mentioned earlier I was already planning on
introducing the adaptive side of ski-biking this season with Griz's
help
from the Adaptive Sport Program but now that he is leaving I could use
some
help. There are a coupe of other instructors from the Adaptive Sports
crew
that really enjoy using ski-bikes but they don't have the contacts
around
the country like Griz had. They said they would be willing to help. J,
I'm
already going to have the Duel Slalom and the Multi Course setup and
reserved just for the festival that we could use to put on the 1st
Annual
National Adaptive Sports Ski-bike Race or what ever you would like to
call
it, I'm open. If you go to any ski area in the country or the world it
would cost you a fortune to close a course and have sno-cats come in
and
build a special course just for your event. BUT, I could offer it for
free
at Durango Mountain Resort. How can I do that you say? I'm also the
cat
driver that builds the
course for the festival so I donate my time. My department owns are
own
sno-cat that I use to clear snow away from the lifts that I use to
build
the courses. If I had to call in the other sno-cats to build these
special
courses they would charge me $1500 - $2000. Then the Race Department
wants
money for closing the courses to the public. But again I have worked
out a
deal with them not to charge me anymore. This is a great opportunity
to put
on a national event for little to no money at all, it's already done.
All
we have to do is add it to my event calender and start promoting it.
The
only thing I can think of that might cost some money are the awards.
I
just need someone to take lead on this and I think you would be
perfect for
it. That's what Griz was going to do for me before he resigned. This
festival is the largest event in North America. It already has a great
reputation and everyone already knows it's going on every year. Please
think about it? All
of your friends around the country would have until the end of
February to
learn how to ride at their own resorts and then they could all meet up
at
the festival and ride together at one area at one time. How cool would
that
be, I would love to see that come together. That would be a great goal
for
a lot of people. Don't you think? Your friends would also have the
opportunity to check out all of the ski-bike manufactures that attend
the
festival. It's really the only place in the world I've been told that
you
can test ride so many ski-bikes in one place, just ask Ron. We could
plan
this every year from now on or change resorts each year depending on
costs.
I send a letter out every year to every ski area in the country that
allows
ski-bikes inviting them to the festival. I plan on mailing these out
by the
end of October. If we could put a plan together by then I could send
out
the same letter to all of the adaptive sports programs inviting them
to
join us
also. Let me know what you think? If we can't do it here, just let me
know
what I can do to help somewhere else.
Take care my friend!
Roy Meiworm
970-759-1046
P.S. I'm not sure if I've told you or not, but the Canadian
Discovery
Channel will be here covering the festival this year. Could be some
good
air time for ya. I should have some other media coverage here also.
September 6, 2006
To Whom It May Concern:
The Adaptive Sports Association, a ski & ride school for people
with
disabilities, began using ski bikes as an adaptive tool during the
2004-2005 winter season. Since then we have increased the quantity and
quality of our instructor training, and have found many applications
for
ski bikes which increase the diversity and depth of our program.
Traditionally, adaptive programs have had difficulty finding
appropriate accessible skiing for people whose disabilities prevent
them
from walking well but do not use a wheelchair. In the past the choices
have
been limited to 4-tracking and mono-skiing. 4-track skiing is done
standing
on two skis with outriggers, similar to crutches with small skis on
them.
The mono-ski is a sit-down piece of equipment, most appropriate for
paraplegics. It feels very restrictive to those who do not use
wheelchairs.
Both 4-tracking and mono-skiing are difficult to learn and the process
is
typically exhausting.
Ski bikes have done an incredible job of filling this gap and
providing
another avenue for people with disabilities to get on the snow. Our
greatest successes have been with students with Multiple Sclerosis.
Often
they have struggled with 4-tracking, finding it difficult and
exhausting.
We knew we were on the right track that first winter. We were working
with
two women with MS who had been struggling for three days to learn
4-tracking. They were still a long way from leaving the beginner area
when
we decided to try ski bikes. The rapid success was amazing. After two
quick
runs at the beginner area, the women were both able to venture to the
top
of the mountain and ride all the way down, one of them completely
independently.
Ski bikes have opened new doors of possibility for many with
disabilities. It is an exciting sport which shows great promise for
many,
many people regardless of ability or disability.
Sincerely,
Scott Griz Kelley
Program Director
Adaptive Sports Association
Durango, CO
Citation
Karl Entenmann, “ANNOUNCE: Amputee Ski Biking,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 23, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/227745.
