Snow Sports
The development of snow skiing for athletes with a walking disability goes back into the seventies. Individualists from all corners of the world brought their ‘pashas’ onto the slopes while skiing with their own often difficult to manage and self constructed equipment. In January 1985 a congress took place in Engelberg under the motto «Winter Sports for Wheelchair riders» with participants from 14 nations. (Organizer Swiss Paraplegics Association (SPA)). This international exchange of ideas assisted the snow sport for wheelchair riders, ski alpine and cross country to finally break through. The technical development of the equipment achieved good standards, and enabled its participants to safely develop an advanced ski technique. The advancements were also possible do to the innovative development of the constructing engineers Raymond Schneebeli, Torgon and later also Klaus von Kaenel, Scharnachtal. Both of them developed ski equipment which up to today is used, and has helped many wheelchair participants to enjoy snow ski runs!
Shortly thereafter the first alpine ski events were organized for wheelchair riders, and within it ski sports for wheelchair participants was birthed as well as established in sports menu offers of the Swiss Paraplegics Association (SPA). These ski courses have continued since, and are a firmly integrated part of the sports services offered by the SPA.
Already in 1987 the wheelchair riders participated in ski racing. After a view national and international competitions the mono bobsledders in 1988 were able to partake in the disciplines of slalom and giant slalom during the fourth Paralympics in Innsbruck. Now its development was unstoppable. The number of bobsledders was constantly growing and its competition in national and international competitions became better as well as more frequent.
Constructing engineers from Austria, France, America and Japan propelled the development of the ski equipment forward. The technical abilities of the skiers developed simultaneously with the ski equipment. During the world championship in 1990 in Winterpark already all disciplines were partaken. During the ski descents high speeds just like with the regular skiers are achieved, and jumps are just another aspect that would not be missed. Off side the racing slopes you will find the mono bob sledders in powder snow and in hump slopes-who thought of and expected this racy and impressive development! New ski sport equipment conquered the White Mountain.
The growing number of mono bobsledders on national and international competitions led to the world championship Winterpark/Colorado in 1990, where a third category was added to usual just two. The division was mainly desired by the Americans, as the Europeans rather one or maximum two categories desires depending on the level of paralysis. Under the initiative of Peter Kraus, Austria, in 1993 a handicap system KREC-System) was introduced, which allowed a direct comparison between the categories from mono bobsledding as well as all the other handicapped categories. Meanwhile this system is still used during the European Cup. During international championships like the Paralympics or the world championship the categories are still divided. In the year 2000 Anzere organized the world championship for the handicapped, which was a first for Switzerland. The newest development in handicapped skiing led to the acceptance into the International Ski Association (FIS) in the year 2000 as a sub committee. Again, another big step towards the integration of wheelchair riders was accomplished!
Suggestions & Service Offers
Team Sport/Animation Wheelchair Sport Switzerland:
Trial (test) and Ski Courses for children/adolescents and adults in Soerenberg. Beginners are welcome. Day courses as well as Weekend courses are offered.
Week long ski courses for the development of independence and for example drive technique.
Chairlift training, Carving techniques etc.
Mono Bobsledding courses – a ski tool for SCI-offered in the different towns like Grindelwald, Saanen and Zinal