About Disability Snowsport UK - The Skiers and Boarders Charity
A Disabled person chooses both freedom and independence when they snap into bindings or transfer from a wheelchair to sit ski. They also choose to actively access adventure. Such a choice is made in spite of chronic health problems or a physical or learning disability. Snowsport simply provides people with a method to conquer the barriers that confront them in daily life, and add to their potential.
The goal of Disability Snowsport UK is to help an individual improve their quality of life and transfer the benefits that they can gain from taking part in snowsport to their everyday life.It is our desire that individuals skiing or boarding with our staff and volunteers identify their goals and dreams. Together we can identify and effect a change in lives.
Each week we witness how our work has helped physical and cognitive development, as well as improving social and emotional skills.
Adaptive skiing is a caring, therapeutic experience between individuals who enjoy adventure. It is lived, breathed, felt and experienced. It enhances the quality of life.
All our staff, volunteers and disabled members are passionate about skiing and boarding; it is this passion that changes lives and makes dreams a reality.
Our history
The Uphill Ski Club was formed almost 30 years ago by Dr David Morris, a consultant paediatrician with the Spastics Society (now SCOPE).
Dr Morris was a keen skier and believed that the movement and skills necessary for skiing could have real benefits for children with cerebral palsy.
Despite much scepticism, he managed to persuade the powers that be in the Spastics Society to allow him to take a small group of children to Italy on a ski trip.
The results were amazing – when two young girls returned from their week away having relegated their wheelchairs to the status of luggage trollies, the organisers knew something very exciting had begun.
In many cases, more was achieved in a week than had been by years of physiotherapy.
As it quickly became obvious that those with other kinds of disabilities could also benefit from the activity, the Uphill Ski Club became a separate charity, and now caters for those of any age and with any kind of disability who wish to learn to ski.
As well as an annual programme of overseas trips, the charity also runs the first dedicated ski school facility for those with disabilities in Europe, at its base at Cairngorm Mountain, and works alongside artifical slope operators, providing training and specialist equipment so the opportunity to participate becomes available to more people.