Helpers

October 12th, 2012

Adaptive skiing is very ‘helper’ intensive as many skiers with disabilities need one-to-one assistance

We’ve got a group of keen helpers (a mix of Bracknell instructors and local skiers) but we could really do with more so if you ski and could spare a few hours once a month on Sundays to help out please get in touch

You don’t need to be a top end skier or have any prior knowledge of disabilities to  provide valuable assistance,  just sensitivity and a willingness to learn

There are a few notes below explaining how the club works but please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to pop along to see what’s involved

 

 

Before Each Session

  • We’ll send an email out to our helper list approximately 3 weeks before each session.
  • Helpers reply to this, indicating their availability
  • We prepare a rota that pairs up skiers and helpers

Please let us know asap if you can no longer make a session so we can adjust the pairings if necessary

At the Session

  • Helpers normally arrive 30 minutes before the session start to get kitted up and be briefed about their skier
  • The skiers turn up slightly later and get kitted up. Their parents normally help with this stage
  • Helpers assist their skiers as required during the session. This varies enormously depending on the needs of the skier and can involve ‘driving’ a sit ski, tethering a skier, helping skiers on/off the button lift etc.
  • During the summer we have a 2 hour slot from the slope so we often fit in 2 shifts of skiers with a changeover after an hour

Helmet Policy

While many of our helpers are unaccustomed to wearing helmets while skiing, helmet use is mandatory at Snowhounds for all skiers and on-slope helpers. Please see below for more details:

  • Snowhounds helpers set an example to our skiers and it can be hard to persuade them to wear a helmet if their helper isn’t
  • It is policy and condition of membership of Disability Snowsport UK (our parent body) that all participants wear helmets
  • They keep your ears warm in the winter
  • Of course, a helmet might just save your life !

Third Party Insurance

Third party insurance is essential for the security and peace of mind of our helpers and skiers. We don’t arrange this directly but obtain cover via our parent organisation, Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK)

Disability Snowsport UK Membership

Regular helpers will need to become a member of Disability Snowsport UK which includes insurance cover and other benefits: http://www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk/membership

Temporary membership is available for your first three sessions (£2.50 a time) if required

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