(by Alessandra Magliaro) - Temporary or definitive, serious or mild, intellectual or not, disability can accompany our lives but must not prevent us from living fully and a society can only be called civil if it does everything to be inclusive and welcoming.
It is a topic of law and coexistence, often addressed by ANSA LIFESTYLE in many aspects such as design, fashion, make up, technological innovations.
And even free time must be inclusive (like the sea in summer which ANSA LIFESTYLE has dealt with here) even if there are not many places on which you can currently count, adequate locations with trained teachers, technology, specific equipment such as wheelchairs which is a kind of sled mounted on skis.
And it's not just about race circuits - The international competitive activity is organized by the CIP International Paralympic Committee;
for the main competitions the regulations of the FIS International Ski Federation and the FISIP Italian Paralympic Winter Sports Federation apply - but simply slopes for weekends, ski weeks, holidays suitable for the visually impaired, standing and sitting according to the 'categories' of alpine skiing.
In Italy there are, among others, in Bardonecchia in Piedmont, in Livigno in Lombardy, in Predazzo in Trentino, at Passo del Tonale, in Asiago in Veneto.
New is the Fisdir Ski Race Cup born from the idea that, for an intellectually disabled person, Alpine skiing is an extraordinary tool for creating positive energy: autonomy, skills and self-esteem useful in sport and in life.
It is the first national circuit dedicated to athletes with intellectual and relational disabilities and it is much more than a sporting competition.
It is a journey that began on 20-21 January 2024 in Sestriere (TO) and passes through places such as Tarvisio (UD), Folgaria (TN) and will culminate in the grand final at Passo del Tonale (BS) on 23-24 March 2024.
Giulia Lamarca, wheelchair travel blogger and Skyscanner Everywhere travel consultant: "We often go to France, to Serre Chevalier: it is a very well-equipped location, both in summer and winter, and offers many activities suitable for both people with a disabilities than for the little ones, or for those who have no skiing experience. Between bobsled runs, bike descents, ski slopes and "baby" areas, fun is guaranteed for those who ski for the first time. Even Trentino, despite I haven't been there yet, it is said to be particularly suitable and cutting-edge for those with a disability, in particular Folgaria, where I know the team that manages the facility.”, she replied to ANSA.
France has a great culture of disability, especially when it comes to winter sports: on the Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon, in Haute-Savoie, there is a famous structure that has existed for 50 years, the Esf school which operates directly on the slopes and among those who take lessons of snowshoes, skateboards, downhill and more expert skiers, the coming and going of people with wheelchairs on skis and companions is not newsworthy as it is inserted into the context (it is no coincidence that in the resort next door there are numerous rooms for guests with reduced mobility) .
The dedicated Handski section, in collaboration with the Samoëns Handi-glisse association which provides the necessary equipment free of charge, has unique courses for people with disabilities or consecutive lessons or simply accompanies.
There is tandem skiing or FMS: For people of all ages, of all weights and all disabilities, even without any autonomy.
With the help of an instructor, you can discover the landscape and the pleasure of skiing.
Dualski and Uniski: For people with lower limb disabilities, it allows them to access the pleasures of skiing independently after lessons.
Kartski: For people with lower limb disabilities who do not have enough balance to ski on Uniski or Dualski.
And finally trotiski: For those who want to ski standing up but don't have enough muscle tone to do it alone, hemiplegic type.
It is an example that we had the opportunity to visit, hoping there will be more and more everywhere, first of all in Italy.
Skiing has its advantages (for psychophysical well-being)
For many people, sport represents a moment of psychophysical well-being and sociability, it helps all athletes, both competitive and amateur, to come into deep contact with their emotions and learn to manage them naturally.
Furthermore, get used to setting yourself fundamental objectives to achieve important goals and train your mind to relax to improve your performance.
Finally, an important system of team and sharing rules encourages respect.
Dr. Adelia Lucattini, Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst of the Italian Psychoanalytic Society and the International Psychoanalytical Association, addresses the topic of psychophysical well-being linked to a particular sport, such as skiing.
What benefits does skiing offer?
"Skiing increases awareness of oneself and one's body, proprioception, coordination, knowing how to move with equipment on, which engages the whole body, not just legs and feet. Learning a new technique, tackling the descents, gives confidence and makes you proud of your results. Furthermore, it is a way to get to know the mountains and new places that can only be reached on skis. Challenging yourself on the slopes by mastering the technique better and better, instills confidence in your abilities and ability to face "obstacles" gradually, gradually increasing the degree of difficulty. Psychologically, the different perspective from which you look at things, embracing mountains and valleys with your gaze, orients your mental perspectives, broadens your views, accustoms you to diversity and complexity. Very important, the new sensorial experiences, the white color of the snow, the woods, the wind, the winter sun, the silence, the different sound of one's own voice, the echo, the typical rustle of skis cutting through the snow, are experiences that starting from the five senses, they are stratified and rooted naturally in the unconscious.
All these factors expand the ability to think.
Being surrounded by wonderful landscapes, views of pristine peaks and tree-lined slopes teaches us to value and appreciate natural riches.
Furthermore, the mountains stimulate the imagination, improve the ability to observe and expand physical pleasure and the feeling of tranquility."
What does skiing teach in particular?
"Skiing teaches us to observe people in their natural element, observation in psychoanalysis as in life is the basis of all learning. Skiing enables us to learn to observe ourselves and make changes based on our own reflections. Furthermore, we leads us to concentrate and look at where we are at that precise moment and to do what is necessary here and now, in order to reach the destination we have set ourselves. At the end of the journey, turning to look at the mountain makes us aware of the route, satisfied with their efforts, proud of their efforts and of themselves. Skiing teaches that sacrifice always pays off, usually linked to holiday periods, to a break from our everyday life, but it can be a way of thinking and a good habit to include in one's habits. Skiing as a modus vivendi, not just as a sporting activity. By preparing to hit the snow you learn many things: the right equipment for each discipline (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, Telemark, ski mountaineering, etc.);
the value of "earning" every meter between curves, descents and ascents;
personal safety and that of others, the necessary rules to respect (the use of helmets, priorities, etc.);
respect for the technical level of your partner or friends, without forcing them if they are more capable and without feeling "inferior" if they are beginners.
Everyone has their own mastery of the discipline, their own style, their own times and personal objectives.
Once the technique has been learned, everyone ventures where they want, as much as they believe, where they can, without forcing themselves or having to prove anything to anyone.
Skiing teaches solidarity, everyone skis alone, but at the same time, together with others.
Safety is not an "optional", the mountain has its rules and they must be respected.
The mountain calls for company and asks us to always be sober, to be vigilant even while having fun, it invites prudence.
There is no fun without safety".
Why teach skiing to children?
"Skiing is a lot of fun, it is also excellent for little ones who are always looking for new things, curious to learn and discovering "adventures", which are always exciting in the mountains. Children are eager to learn and naturally inclined towards activities other than those habitual, as long as they are together with their parents or adults they know, such as their teachers. If skiing is learned from a young age, it combines the pleasure of this activity with the love for the mountains, learning a discipline, playing and gaining experiences while being in a group, movement in an environment beneficial to health. Learning to ski as a child is the best moment, because the little ones quickly become passionate about the snow and quickly learn, in an intuitive way, the automatisms of this sport. It's a sort of " imprinting", which remains in the unconscious, physical, psychic and sensorial memory for life, associated with the memory and pleasure of those moments".
Dr. Lucattini, can skiing, in addition to training the muscles and the heart, reduce stress?
"It is certainly an excellent sport to keep children in good physical shape, improving their health of the musculoskeletal, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. It improves elasticity, strength, general well-being, instills a feeling of pleasure through the release of endorphins. Furthermore, being a sport practiced at altitude, it helps those children who suffer from allergic asthma, due to the rarefaction of oxygen it favors the increase in red blood cells, which remains even when returning home. Of crucial importance for the psychological well-being is the typical silence of life in the mountains. An adequate period of "detoxification" from noise pollution, in which children are immersed in the city, in the classroom, in the gym, at home, is certainly fundamental. Furthermore, it is a privileged environment in which it is not possible to use electronic tools or, if necessary, only for a short time; therefore, it favors a rather painless separation from all devices thanks to physical activity during the day, tiredness in the evening and the discovery of games and alternative activities.
In fact, in all the mountain resorts, you can find evening singing activities, group games, acting, etc., from which children are literally "kidnapped" and who learn by playing".
Nutrition and well-being in the mountains in winter
For further information Agenzia ANSA Nutrition and wellbeing, how to enjoy the mountains in winter - Food - Ansa.it Tips for making the most of weekends and ski weeks (ANSA)
The mountain is slow with snowshoes
For further information Agenzia ANSA Off-piste at snowshoe pace on the snow, the mountains are slow - Free Time - Ansa.it Walking with snowshoes is conquering more and more young people (ANSA)
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