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Slide & Ride event helps more Albertan’s experience the freedom of hitting the slopes

Jan 7, 2018 | 4:22 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – Canadian Adaptive Snowsports Alberta (CAD’s) is trying to ensure all Albertan’s get the chance to hit the slopes regardless of abilities.

The Slide & Ride event is taking place across the province this winter and made a stop just outside of Medicine Hat at Hidden Valley Ski Resort on Saturday. Participants are able to use adaptive ski’s and snowboards while receiving one on one instruction to help them take off on the snow.

Tim Tratch has been volunteering as a ski instructor with CAD’s for 13 years. He said the fundamentals of skiing whether you’re using two blades or one, is virtually same.

“Once you find your balance, your turns come with it,” he explained. “The hardest thing is trusting yourself to work with your balance.”

He encourages anyone to to climb outside their comfort zone and give skiing a try.

“For someone that is disabled, it’s really tough to understand when you’re bound to limited sports or ways of life,” he said. “To do something like this is very free like, it’s just a great feeling to get to do it.”

Tratch’s son, Trinity, learned to ski with CAD’s 14 years ago, he is now an ambassador for the program and has been racing on one ski competitively for 7 years. He wants more people to get involved and share in his passion for hitting the slopes.

“A lot of people when they’re disabled have this mind set that they cannot do something,” he said “Where as realistically they can do it, they just have to be doing it in a different way.”

Trinity said it’s challenging learning to ski but all he has learned will take him farther in life than just up the chair lift.

“If you can over come skiing, you’ll be able to over come a lot more challenges throughout life,” he explained.

He said he has learned more about himself through his ski training.

“Some of the main skills I have learned from skiing is actually just learning how I actually learn,” he said. “It also developed me as a person, made great friends and I’ve just really enjoyed myself.”

CAD’s is hosting their next free Slide & Ride event on January 21st at Canada Olympic Park. For more information and registration for upcoming events is available on the Canadian Adaptive Snowsports Alberta’s website.