Jim Finch and Amanda Boxtel use a disc lift. The main skiing is on Hlioarfjall Mountain, where the slopes are expansive and varied to suit experts or novices. photo by Michael Stoner

Skiing is Believing

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In America we sometimes take for granted the barriers that have been removed for people with disabilities. Iceland, like many foreign countries, is now recognizing the importance of equal access.

"My son Tomas has a dream—he would like to walk normally one day. He understands it might be possible for him to ski. I hope he will learn and that he is capable of doing more than he thinks or realizes now," says Bjorn Erlingsoon, father of 9-year-old Tomas, who has spastic diplegia. They live on Iceland's north-central coast.

On March 7-17, six Challenge Aspen instructors traveled to Akureyri, Iceland, to help establish an international adaptive program. Challenge Aspen (Colo.) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "making possibilities for people with disabilities."

"The trip's mission was to create awareness of disabilities," says Challenge Aspen founder/instructor Houston Cowan says. "At first the disability and able-bodied community didn't believe that someone with a disability could participate in downhill skiing. It was clear they would have to 'see it to believe it.'"

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