Vacation Aside

I did not really write much about my trip. When you ski, it is up the mountain and down for hours and hours. It was the perfect Utah week.

Due to my advanced age and crappy joints, I need to take a break after skiing 3 days in a row (I can ski daily with a full backpack on cross country, but downhill just kicks my silly knee's ass- I bet you did not know that knees have asses did you?). My in-laws who are 30+ years older than me can ski more days than I can. I do not think I will be out there when I am 75. Mike thinks by then they will have sport knee replacements, so that is my best hope. You would not believe all of the octogenarian skiers we come across. We met a man last week who was complaining about waiting to turn 80 so he could ski free at Deer Valley, and when he turned 80 they discontinued the program. They used to let you ski for free at Park City when you hit 70, but I guess too many people are skiing after 70 and the program was pulled (much to my father-in-law's sadness!). I digress........

On my day off, I had the opportunity to see one of my pool clients try adaptive skiing at the National Ability Center (based in Park City)

http://www.discovernac.org/

My client is a little guy, so his first day out was not the greatest. I got to ski with him on the second day though, and it was really great. He did not like the chairlift much, but I can not blame him (he was skiing in a sitting set up where they lift you up on the chairlift. I would not like that either, and I am used to lifts). They work with adults and kids with a full range of disabilities, and they offer other activities in addition to the ski program. The adaptive equipment was really cool to see and I had to ask how they evaluated candidates for appropriate devices. All you need is to be able to move your head a little, and you are able to ski with assistance.

It is pretty pathetic that there are not many adaptive sports programs around here. A huge metropolitan area and not many options. It makes me want to start a program around here. Maybe in the water?????