By Nick Hanson
MANKATO — The conditions were perfect for skiing.
Fresh powder and barely anyone in sight.
Brian Conlon was taking full advantage of the situation at Mount Kato, as he effortlessly carved down a slope with a smile on his face.
Skill level, however, wasn’t the most impressive thing about Conlon.
It was the fact that he was skiing at all.
The 25-year-old has spina bifida, a spinal deficiency that constrains him to a wheelchair.
Yet, there he was navigating down a hill on a Sunday afternoon, thanks to special equipment used in the sport of adaptive skiing.
The process of adaptive skiing is relatively simple. The person sits on a device strapped to a solo ski. They use two out-riggers — kind of like poles with mini skis attached to the bottom — to balance, and turn by shifting their body weight.
“I thought it would be a lot harder than this,” Conlon said. “It’s even more fun than I thought it would be.”
He’s only been out a total of four times, but already Conlon has got the hang of the sport. He’s been down every hill at Mount Kato, including the black diamonds.
Like other area adaptive skiers, Conlon began the sport through Community Education and Recreation’s Ability Centered Community Education Support Services’ (ACCESS) Program. The service offers activities to people with disabilities.
ACCESS has been promoting adaptive skiing for seven years, and owns four special skiing units to lend out.
This year, about 15 people participate who have disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy and spina bifida to multiple sclerosis and blindness.
Joining other community members on the slope is a liberating experience for adaptive ski participants, said Joanne Hovey, a program assistant.
“It really is that equal opportunity,” she said. “I love it, and I don’t even ski.”
Hovey has been volunteering with the program since it was created.
Through the years, Mount Kato has been supportive of adaptive skiers, she said. They’ve even lowered their chair lifts to make it easier to hop on.
Volunteers get almost as much thrill out of the program as the adaptive skiers, said John Marston, a longtime ski instructor.
“It’s fun to be able to give people an opportunity to enjoy a recreational activity we all enjoy,” he said.
The best part is seeing the look on the face of new participants after making down the slope for the first time.
“It’s sweet,” Marston said.
