Early Season Mono-Ski Adventure at Mammoth Mountain

It was early in the week and Rosanna and I decided to enjoy the early season opened at Mammoth Mountain for skiing and snowboarding. We called ahead to Disabled Sports of the Eastern Sierra (DSES) to arrange for a mono-ski lesson with one of their instructors. We left late on Tuesday and drove through the night to be there at 1:00 pm. We arrived early around 3:00 am and checked into a disabled friendly room at the Motel 6 and got some sleep before our appointment. Through the night I encountered a fever of 102 and rendered my body helpless. I was going everywhere in my mind, “Will I have to cancel my lesson? “After all the hard work that DSES did to make this come to life, would I chalk this up as a disappointment? My limbs froze as the fever pulsed through my body. Rosanna covered my chest, neck and head with ice and cool rags to inhibit the fever. I fought to move my legs as the fever diminished. With the help of Tylenol and ice, step by step I arose from the bed. 

    We then loaded up for our adventure on the slopes. We met Rick, who remembered us from a previous trip, Alan and Brent from DSES which was doing a volunteer training. We ran into Kimberley who was there at the Life Rolls On event a couple years back. Our arrival had the feeling of a reunion as we saw Maggie and Zachary, who did the training for me when we skied with Life Rolls On’s “They will Ski Again” in 2009. 
                                     We focused on getting some skiing done with the mono-ski as we finished all of our greetings with friends from the past. Rick, Brent and Alan assisted me into the mono-ski and the lesson began.  I learned that I was being taught to try to be as independent as possible so that meant I was too hold myself up with the help of my out riggers. We went through a battery of exercises in order to challenge my balance with the mono-ski on dry ground. We then moved out to a small flat area where we practiced going down the bunny slope without falling over. I had previously skied with a bi-ski where you turned by shifting your hips. Mono-skiing was the exact opposite. When you shift your hips on a mono-ski, you simply fall over. Rick then, after the lesson ended, gave me an accurate and honest appraisal of my abilities. He said that I am a long way off from becoming fully independent on the mono-ski and after work on my upper body strength that it would be possible. I appreciated his appraisal and he left me with a glimmer of hope. Rosanna and I took in his words and developed a routine to work with my nurse aides to develop my strength.
    Day 2 started with some Starbucks coffee provided by the Westin Resort. We changed our accommodations to the Westin Resort after we finished my lesson the previous day. Rosanna did some snowboarding while I waited at the Westin.
    1:00 clock began to draw near and Rosanna met me at the hotel to bring me to DSES for my lesson. Rick quickly got me started doing drills balancing on the mono-ski.
We then headed to the lifts and began learning more basics of doing independent mono-skiing. I learned how to load and depart the lift which required significant triceps strength. The first run when we unloaded from the chair lift. It went perfect as I skied down the hill with Rick and Brent.
    I fully recommend and support DSES for your winter adventure needs. Their staff was helpful and welcoming. If this is your first-time mono or bi-skiing let The Threus Foundation cover the cost of a half day of skiing in order to give the prospective skier a taste of what we are doing.

Flirting With Disaster

          After a unsuccessful attempt at kayak surfing in San Clemente, I learned that I needed to build up my core strength by flat water kayaking first. Rosanna had been learning how to paddle board with an instructor in Oxnard and he was willing to provide kayak lessons for us.

           The morning came after my morning routine and we got a phone call from Sean Patterson, Rosanna's instructor. He was canceling on us because his insurance doesn't cover kayaking, only paddleboarding. He pointed us toward a place that rents kayaks in Channel Islands Harbor and apologized for any inconvenience. We had to make a decision. We could let this kill our dream or move forward with a sense of purpose. Of course, we decided to move forward head first. We met up with Our Brother, David Balfour, at Channel Island Harbor.

         From a wheelchair perspective, we had numerous challenges ahead of us. How were we going to get from the wheelchair safely into the kayak? Once on the kayak how were we going to keep from flipping into the murky water and how would we disembark the kayak once back to the dock? The funny thing is that we did not discuss any of these things till we finished and having lunch.

          I had faith that everything would work out fine. I wrapped my arms around the heads of Rosanna and David and slowly walked down the ramp towards the kayak. I was slowly lowered down to the dock. They assisted me as I scooted into the kayak. I my heart raced during the entire process. I was full of fear of falling into the drink or slamming onto the dock.
       

           Once situated on the kayak, it took me a few moments to get a feeling of stability.The owner of the kayak rentals suggested we use a tandem kayak because it would be more stable. I waited for Rosanna and David to get into their kayaks and we were off cruising the channel. We went about 200 yards and my core muscles were toast. I leaned back to help reserve my strength but the back rest wasn't situated for that. My arms seemed to stop working. The entire experience seemed to scream "You need to start working out and build your strength."

          Rosanna put me in tow and  brought me safely back to the dock. We faced the next challenge. Getting from the kayak to the dock. David was very hesitant about the idea and asked to hold on to my glasses. The owner of the rentals gave me his arm to pull me out of the kayak. My nerves were shot. We kept from rolling over into the water and avoided disaster.

 We headed to Pepe's Mexican Food. for some great  Mexican grinds. Pepe's  is competing as the best burrito in 2010. We commenced a debrief of our adventure and our near miss. David, a chiropracter and accupuncturist, was willing to share his insights with Rosanna and I over lunch. Many of these insights I shared earlier. It was a successful mission, we kayaked and stretched our faith muscle. In retrospect, it would have been a disaster if I ended up in the water. How would they get me out? This filled up most of the conversation and realizing how lucky we were that I didn't go in and how much of a burden it would have been if I did go in the water. By the grace of God we had a successful trip.