From NHS Nurse to Ski Instructor

Skiing with my own health care needs One of the reasons I am so passionate about helping people with health needs to ski is that I ski with my own health problems; several of them. I have scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis, joint hypermobility, osteopenia and Raynaud’s. Scoliosis (curved spine)  is something I have had since a child. It’s quite severe and my spine is a perfect ‘S’ shape. In fact it is so severe that I have had two lots of spinal surgery and am fitted with a spinal rod which goes from between my shoulder blades down to my waist to keep me upright. This means I am very stiff in my upper body. Something I can’t help. My curved spine has also caused my pelvis to tilt and my right leg is longer than my left as a result. Please, if you are a ski instructor reading this don’t tell someone skiing with a spinal rod that they are too stiff in their upper body. It shows ignorance. Unfortunately I get told this all the time which just highlights my point earl...

  Disability Snowsport UK Disability Snowsport is the UK’s leading snow sports charity teaching skiing to disabled people both at UK indoor centres and on holidays abroad. DSUK make the health and social benefits of snow sports and the unique exhilaration thrill that accompanies skiing available to anyone with a disability no matter what sort of health need they have or how severe it is. Whilst there is a team of paid staff there is an even bigger team of passionate volunteers like myself who help out at local UK ski centres, social ski groups and on adaptive ski holidays. Helping people with healthcare needs to experience the same thing you and I do is something I am deeply passionate about. There is no such thing as disability, only ability. I strongly believe that every ski school should have an adaptive instructor on its team. Unless you have an adaptive instructor on your team you cannot be an inclusive ski school, you can only be an exclusive ski school and in be...

Jubilee Sailing Trust Jubilee Sailing Trust Back in August  2018 I agreed to take part in a disability ski holiday with the Jubilee Sailing Trust and The Ski Company to La Moubra, Crans Montana, Switzerland as one of the support buddies for the trip. The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a registered charity who believe people of altered ability should have the same freedom to explore the world, their ability and their potential through adventure as able bodied people. Most adventures are sailing but once a year there is a disability ski holiday. Anybody can volunteer to take part on one of the Jubilee Sailing Trust trips as a buddy (helper). I opted for the ski holiday after becoming involved through The Ski Company having volunteered on a trip through them the previous year. It was whilst looking on The Ski  Company website in the summer that I saw the disability skiing trip. As an NHS nurse and someone training as a ski instructor I felt I would make a good...

In September 2018 I started my training as a ski instructor. At the end of the week long course I found that my short turns were not at the standard required and that I would need another exam. My examiner advised me not to book onto the re-assessment until the problems with my short turns were corrected. I continued with the practice driving to the indoor slopes at either Castleford or Manchester when I could. I even did a two day ski performance course with someone who was a BASI trainer. Nothing helped. My short turns were still a problem. I was getting nowhere and running out of ideas. With my off duty already written 3 months in advance and the examiner advising me not to book my technical resit until I was at the required standard I had struggled to get  booked onto a technical resit. Failing to make progress alone, I had tracked down my BASI examiner from September and flew out to him and his  ski school in Chamonix , Freedom Snowsports, for coaching.  ...