What really is Winterfun’d? And how YOU can support adaptive winter sports in Australia…
As the twenty-first century is maturing we are entering into a brand new world of ideas that were just dreams about a decade ago. For the world of disability these changes have only meant one thing- the improvements in our abilities. This rapid improvement has been due to differing products and organisations aiming to focus on our abilities along with providing the right aids supporting our disabilities.
One of these organisations is Disabillity Wintersport Australia (DWA). Disability Wintersport Australia was originally established in 1978 and was firstly named the ‘Australian Disabled Skiers Federation’. Throughout the years since, the organisation has supported thousands of people with all kinds of disabilities to use their own skills to find their own freedom on the slopes. This assistance has come in many ways including providing adaptive equipment such as Sit-skis, professionally trained instructors, volunteers along with organising camps for adaptive skiers at specific levels of skiing. Due to providing these services DWA has been able to support quite a few skiers attend the Winter Paralympics Games alongside many other national and international competitions.
DWA has very little government support and has relied on volunteers and public donations to buy equipment since the organisation was born. Thankfully in the past few years, one of DWA’s volunteers, Charlotte, has spent countless hours organising an annual event called Winterfun’d , which is coming up again in mid August. The purpose of this event is to raise money for much needed equipment such as Sit-skis.
I first met Charlotte last year when I enjoyed a day with her, her partner Lee and my friends (click here to see our trip’s video). We enjoyed many wild ski runs with another guide and DWA manager Ursina, who is also one of the best skiers I have ever seen. I got to know both Charlotte and Lee and how passionate they have become about DWA.
I have been personally involved with DWA for about 20 years. One of the main reasons that I have always loved this organisation is because they have constantly pushed me to utilise the skills and abilities that I had so that I could be as independent as possible on the slopes. It has been a sport that I have been able to continually develop and grow in since I was a child. In particular, I have developed my technique of leaning with my body weight side to side in order to steer the Sit-ski. This experience was made even more special as I was able to begin my first years on the slopes with my best friend Storm and one of the most experienced DWA instructors, Simon. Both Storm and Simon have since passed away but to this day I know I am lucky to have kicked started my skiing life with these people and I know they both ski alongside me in spirit now.
So, now that you know a little bit more about DWA, and you can see how much it has done for me as a life long participant, I strongly encourage you to get behind their annual fundraising event in Jindabyne NSW, Winterfun’d. You are all welcome to come along and support us on Saturday the 17th August (click here for details) or you can click here to donate to the DWA Go Fund Me page anytime. You will be making such a difference in the lives of people with disabilities by supporting a wonderful organisation that enables them to experience freedom and enjoy winter sports in Australia.
