Pour les vacances scolaires, Marc a eu la chance de skier pendant une semaine au
rythme de 2 séances de 1h30 par jour. Comment notre enfant qui a des
difficultés à marcher et à garder son équilibre a-t-il pu skier debout ? C’est grâce à
l’invention de Marco Gostoli qui a créé la machine Gotoski. Marc a pu l’utiliser à
la station de ski de Risoul 1850 avec l’association Antenne Handicap et son
président et moniteur Thomas Zitolli.
Il faut dire que Marc avait déjà essayé la Gotoski l’année dernière à l’Alpe
d’Huez et comme il avait été enchanté, nous avons décidé de lui offrir une semaine
complète cette année.
La Gotoski n’est pas seulement une machine pour faire skier tout le monde mais
c’est aussi pour les enfants CP une vraie solution thérapeutique.
C’est ce que nous a expliqué Marco Gostoli dans l’interview qu’il nous a accordé
et que vous pouvez écouter ici.
Vous pouvez contacter Antenne Handicap sur sa page
Facebook
et le site du fabricant du
Gotoski.
Standing-up skiing for everyone
When we talk about disability, it is difficult to imagine how a person could ski
in a standing-up position on the highest Alps mountains slopes but it’s now
possible!
The Gotoski allows you to ski standing up with your handicap. A wide range of people
can practice sit-skiing, from skiers with lower limb disabilities who can access
autonomy on the slopes, to people whose disability does not allow them to be
autonomous. Ski chairs, although very efficient, are not essential for a majority of
the lighter disabilities (80% of cases) to start handiskiing.
Although wheelchair disability is the most visible disability, it represents
only 3% of all disabilities. We can only note the lack of adapted ski solutions for
people with disabilities milder than paraplegia and tetraplegia.
For example, for children & adults with :
- a motor deficiency : Cerebral palsy GMFC level 1&2 / hemiparésie
Snowskut offers you the Gotoski Standard or Synchro — for standing-up handiskiing
we experienced for our son Marc (Gmfc level 2).
Les bénéfices thérapeutiques
Positive influences of regular exercise are important for a child’s physical,
psychological as well as sociological development. But the real importance is not
the progress itself; it is socializing, fun and relaxation in the snow, spending
free time in nature, fresh air and away from the monotonous everyday life. The
final goal of ski learning is to teach a child with cerebral palsy to be able
to ski safely and independently in the company of his/her peers, friends or
family members.
Supporting the adaptive snowsports programs while reducing the barriers faced by
people with disabilities should be a continued effort to promote quality of
participation.
Marco Gostoli et Snowskut
The best way is to follow Marco Gostoli on Instagram. Marco Gostoli is an
experienced competitor, he trained and prepared several professional Handiski
skiers and winners of some medals in the Paralympic Games, but he is also an
inventor at heart of equipment! He is the inventor of this Machine « Gotoski » which
give possibility to ski a handicapped person not sitting but standing (even not walking handicapped
people)…. his company — Snowskut manufactures GoToSki.
All informations on his page:
Equipment for standing skiing adapted to your disability
At my knowledge it’s the only one standing-up system which has permission to be
used for mountains slopes
(see doc in French : page 14 — d’homologation des matériels de ski).
Stations proposant le Gotoski
- Antenne Handicap Risoul 1850
- La Plagne (Contact Hélène 0686860158)
- Alpe d’Huez ESF Tél : +33 (0)4 76 80 31 69
- Courchevel, Les Angles, Val d’Isère, Valberg, Plagne Centre, Orcières Merlette, La Pierre Saint-Martin, Peyragudes
- Some in Italy / Switzerland / Bulgaria / Spain
Studies about ski & CP
Was studied in Italy. The study generally found that CP
with skiing as results: improving balance, motor skills, and aspects of
self-esteem.