| OCR Text |
Show Clinic teaches volunteers to teach handicapped skiing If skiing the bumps on Thaynes isn't enough of a challenge already, imagine doing it with your eyes closed. As hard as that may be to icomprehend, there are a growing number of people in (the United States who have jearned to ski with just such a handicap. And they are doing quite well, thank vou. Hal O'Leary has been in charge of the Handicap Ski Program at Winter Park, Colorado for the past 11 years, teaching people with a range of handicaps from blindness to partial paralysis. "Many of these people 1 taught 11 years ago are now advanced skiers, skiing moguls," O'Leary said. O'Leary was in Park City earlier this week to conduct a clinic for volunteer instructors in-structors on teaching the handicapped to ski. Although the clinic focused on four specific areas, he makes it clear that his program in Winter Park is not choosy. "I started with 23 amputees am-putees 11 years ago," he says. "Today, we're teaching over 700 people per week. Out of that number there are 30 different disabilities." One of the star pupils at the Park City clinic was Dave Gordon, director of the Hal O'Leary (right) the First Time lift. Chamber executive officers elected The new Park City Chamber Cham-ber of Commerce Board of Directors met with enthusiasm en-thusiasm at their first meeting of the 1981 year on Feb. 26. From the group in attendence emerged another select executive board, anxious to tackle this year's community business concerns. con-cerns. As elected officers, each official automatically assumes the chairmanship of a major Chamber committee, com-mittee, and will form support sup-port committees from the remaining board and membership. mem-bership. Bill McComb, newly-elected newly-elected Chamber president, will act as chairman of Government Involvement. Having worked closely with 1980 president Bill Coleman, the transition between the two should be a smooth one. McComb has held the office of 1st vice-president throughout the 1980 year, and his understanding of the Chamber's role in the business community will be an asset to our 1981 endeavors. en-deavors. Board member Georgene Crosby has been elected to a new post as a 1981 Chamber board leader in the position of 1st Vice President, Utah Office lor the Handicapped Handi-capped Gordon is blind. O Leary began by attaching at-taching a special pair of clips, which he called bras, to the front of Gordon's skis. The clips held the tips of the skis about two inches apart and helped Gordon to master a snowplow turn within minutes. O'Leary says that people who have been blind all their lives have an advantage over the rest of us. "They don't see how sleep the hill is, they don't see how deep the moguls are . . . they have very little apprehension." More resistance comes from the student who lost his sight at some point alter birth. "He is the one who has more problems because he knows the danger. He luiuws wnai ne is. against." up One of O'Leary's students was a downhill racer lor Denver University before he lost his sight. "1 had to take him right back to the snowplow because he knew all the fears of skiing," he said. -It's taken him six years to get back to the level he used to be." The method used by O'Leary teaches a student to respond to verbal commands from a trained guide who normally skis right behind . .... ... m$tezh' I if X 1 :.. . guides Dave Gordon down a gentle slope near replacing Bill iviccomb. Throughout the 1980 year, Crosby served as 2nd vice president, and her special touch in communicating with our Chamber membership member-ship has been well recognized. For this reason, "George" will be a natural in taking charge of the Ways and Means committee, better bet-ter known as Membership and Finance. New board member Edna Schettler will be the 1981 2nd Vice President, in charge of Communications. Having t had substantial first-hand experience, Schettler is very capable of representing the best interests of the Chamber Cham-ber business community, particularly in the areas of recreational amenities and retail trade. Most important for this position, Schettler has an acute understanding of the need lor good, clear communications between the Chamber board, member mem-ber businesses, and the Park City community. Finally, new board member mem-ber David Krajeski accepted the position of 1981 Chamber Secretary, and the chairmanship chair-manship of Community Affairs. Af-fairs. Succeeding former secretary of three years, Tina Lewis, Krajeski vii! assume this position, and oi . This his unsighted companion. "If the instructor gets too far behind, if the blind person that of Park City Rotary president, lor 1981. When briefed on what the job actually ac-tually entails, former secretary Lewis summed it up by mumbling something about "sewing ruffles on costumes, and building showboat wheels." Further along the lines of Chamber reorganization came the appointment of Tine Lewis as an honorary board member, and the Park City Council Liaison. In addition, ad-dition, the reappointment of Bill Coleman to the board came with resignation of Merle Huseth. Coleman will remain on the board through 1982, when Huseth's term expires. The Chamber board acknowledges the service of past executive board officers, of-ficers, president Bill Coleman. 1st vice president Bill McComb, 2nd vice president Georgene Crosby, and secretary Tina Lewis. We look forward to continued con-tinued accomplishments with new board president Bill McComb, 1st vice president Georgene Crosby, 2nd vice president Edna Schettler, and secretary Dave Krajeski. Here's to a very successful and progressive 19H1 year. device is used to help handicapped skiers master a snow plow turn. misunderstands a command, com-mand, it can be dangerous.'' According to O'Leary, a blind person with a trained guide and the proper instruction instruc-tion can tackle anything available to a sighted individual. in-dividual. "I would say there is no limitation whatsoever." what-soever." O'Leary's work with paraplegics had led to the design of a special sled which he called a sit ski. "It's sort of like kayaking on snow." he said. "But the feeling is very similar to standing on skis. " The sled can be used in all kinds of terrain, including VVfVu f 1 1 v$ gk jfpi 14 idi 1 r"' 4 moguls, and is designed to lit onto the chairlifts. The Winter Park program is not confined just to skiing, or to winter. O'Leary also runs a summer program which includes sailing, horseback horse-back riding, and kayaking. "The blind really like to do rock climbing," he said. "It's a feeling thing, and they have no tear ol heights' O'Leary contends lluit (Inactivities (In-activities go far beyond just forms of exercise, that they help to establish a feeling of dignity and self respect. But he said that feeling can be deflated by the patronizing ""1&W ; OM F-flM3GF ri'fifr T-, j-:. tr f W altitude ol others. "The worst thing you can say to a handicapped person is. 'I really admire you for what you're doing.' " He recalled the time he came off a ski hill with a blind student, when they were approached by another skier. "He looked at me and said, I always wanted to know what a blind person got out ol skiing.' " O'Leary suggested that the' man ask his student. And he remembers clearly the reply the student gave. "He said. 'Sir, the same thing you do.' 'it -'X-1 Iff- The Newspaper Thursday, March 5, 1981 Page A9 EXPERIENCE UNIQUE DINING Join us in our patio greenhouse (or breakfast or lunch featuring our famous breakfast specials including the "miners dawn" and Park City's best selection of soups, sandwiches & omelettes, as well as our excellent salad bar. Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Breakfast served anytime. Open for dinner Monday through Saturday 6 to 10 p.m. New Menu by Jake Larimore Featuring New York Steak, Fillet au Poivre, Fresh Salmon, Chicken Kiev, Teriyakis Dinner reservations appreciated r -'.v-. , ESTABLISI1MKNT 317 Main St., Park City, Utah 649-8284 Visa Master Charge SUBSCRIBE! 649 SUBSCRIBE! F In 1 3 m r n' 'r',;r'n- 11 a-' 1 1 - 9014 SUBSCRIBE! 649-9014 SUBSCR SUBSCRIBE! 649-9014 SUB |
