Breaking down barriers for skiers with disabilities

For some skiers, it’s not as easy as heading up to the mountain, strapping on a pair of skis and hitting the slopes. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we speak with Carl Burnett, an adaptive ski racer who has been working with Oregon Adaptive Sports, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking down the barriers faced by athletes with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. In winter, the organization heads to three Oregon ski areas to give people access to specialized equipment and training that might be otherwise be difficult to access. In summer, they do the same thing on cycling, hiking and mountain bike trails in central Oregon. According to Burnett, the mission is not just about helping skiers with disabilities, but showing the rest of the community what’s possible. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What are the different barriers faced by skiers with disabilities? Gaining access to the outdoors can be a profound experience for those who might find it difficult to get there. How do you teach somebody who’s new to a sit ski? Opening up the mountain to skiers of all abilities can be inspirational for the whole community. Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. -- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices