First Paraplegic Ski Patroller in Canada

One year late but last year I became the first paraplegic in Canada to be become a ski Patroller, and just last week I re-certified to maintain my certification.

So what did I do for this and what is my current status?

Well my story starts at the information session last year, I met Geoff Scotton the president for the Calgary Ski Patrol Zone he was of coarse unsure about my participation in the course as it had not been done before.

Well Geoff called me back and said that I could take the course but I would not be able to continue after that, I was fine with that as I had really not expected to be able to do that much.

So during the course an 80+ hour course I was able to demonstrate that I had the skills to continue on after the classroom sessions, at that point Geoff let me know that they would let me continue until I was not able to perform at a level that they require just like everyone else so that was great news to me.

I passed the the written test, I passed the diagnostic scenario test. I have to say this would not have been possible with out the support of the amazing instructors, after that I just had to pass the on snow testing to finish.

The on snow testing was an assessment of my skiing ability and my ability to pull a toboggan down the hill. This is were is gets tough I don't ski like your typical Patroller but I do have to use some of the same skills such as turn initiation, weighting and unweighting in a turn I was passed with my skiing ability.

Next was pulling a toboggan down a hill this was tough but I did it and it was the first time it was done. I did it with at tail gunner who is a person that ski's behind the toboggan with a rope attached to the back of it to help maintain control.

I had planned to patrol at Nakiska if I was able to so I attended the returning Patroller weekend, we did scenarios through out the first day, the second day we did lift evacuations that was the first time I was evacuated in the sit ski I was a little nervous but it was all good.

Unfortunately this is were I finished I attend the ski around day at Nakiska with the Patrollers, this allows them to see if I would be a fit and to see my abilities. During one of the last runs I was dropped off the gold lift this caused some serious damage to my shoulder, that was my last day of skiing for the year.

But now I am back and feeling better then ever, I hope to be able to continue were I left off at Nakiska I hope to start out doing some sessions in the Patrol hut and if I am able to, start patrolling on the hill itself in some sort of capacity.

As of last year I finishes as an Associate Patroller not an active Patroller as I did not end up patrolling at a ski hill last year.

I have to give a huge thanks and shout out to Geoff, the whole Calgary zone and the Canadian ski patrol system for taking a chance and being leaders in allowing me the chance to become a Patroller they could have just as easily said no.

Ski season has started

Spent last night ripping up Canada Olympic Park, OK you don't really rip up COP but it had been 10 months since I had been on the ski.

It felt really good getting back in the bucket after my shoulder injury last year at Nakiska after getting dropped off the gold chair lift, and oh so happy that they have replaced the gold lift with a new detachable.

I have a feeling that its going to be a great ski season can't wait to get into the mountains again to really shred it up.

Here is some old video from my first season of skiing

Ski Video one
Ski Video Two

Almost 10 Years, Gotta Plan

So I have been thinking of what I should do on the 10 year anniversary of the accident that changed my life.

After 10 hours in surgery and from what I understand close to passing away I started my new life as a person with a SCI, this as you can imagine was quite a new change for me but I was determined to live my life finishing up school and getting a job. (A later post will contain more details)

So what to do for the 10 year anniversary have a party, have a drink?

I have decided to do something that I have been wanting to do since I was 16 and that being IRONMAN Canada, I still remember watching this race live and thinking that one day I would do it. That day will be in 2011 to celebrate all the life that I have lived since 2001. I hope to have as much family there as they have all supported me through this process and know that seeing them and my kids at the finish line when I roll on through will be one of the greatest days of my life.