During my 42 years with Disabled Sports USA I have met many people with disabilities. A good number of them achieved greatness in their chosen sport. Some became ski instructors or race coaches. Some started chapters of Disabled Sports USA. Many have been wonderful role models.
Over the years we have developed a bunch of adaptive equipment and teaching techniques that allow almost anyone with any disability to participate in skiing. But there was a time when we could not accommodate people in wheelchairs. If a person could not ski standing up, we couldn't involve them. By the mid-eighties we solved that problem but in the early days of adaptive skiing it was "sorry my friend". That leads me to my first hero.
His name was Renee. We called him "the handman". You see, he was born with a birth defect that left him with virtually unusable legs. He ambulated with crutches but often set them down and walked on his hands for short distances. And he skied that way! This young man was so determined to ski that he would put his hands down into ski boots attached to skis. His upper body was so strong that he would ski in a front leaning rest (push up) position dragging his short defomed legs behind him. In fact, he learned how to use his legs as rudders to help him steer. He ran race courses that way. The Handman was the ultimate example of determination and adaptation.
Al was a Viet Nam vet who lost both of his legs above the knees and he lost his right hand and all but a few fingers on his left. Al learned to ski standing up on his two artificial legs and in those days the knees in above knee prosthetics would collapse when bent. So Al had to learn to ski on stilts that would collapse in the middle, basically. And he had to try to hold on to outriggers with what was left of his hands. Al also became proficient enough to run race courses. Al refused to use a wheelchair despite the fact that it would have been easier for him to get around. Al's determination was something I admired greatly. He found a way to adapt and overcome!
The history of Disabled Sports USA is repleat with stories of determination, adaptation and achievement despite great odds. They represent the driving force of our organization.
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