Adaptive Skiing in Snow Country

We get enquiries about adapative snowsports in Snow Country. People are keen to know, with all the resorts around, if there are facilities for adaptive skiers and boarders.

The good news that there is with two schools covering resorts in different areas.

If you are up in Yuzawa the people to talk to are NPO Neige who run both summer and winter activities in the area.

Down in the Minakami area there is Palnetwork who cover all the resorts down there including Houdaigi, Norn, Okutone, Tenjindaira and Minakami Kogen.

There are plenty of options out there and both school would be good to talk to if you need specific advice.

Adaptive Snow Sports

As the flyer for the adaptive ski program at Neige notes, "Anyone can enjoy the snow." They have a highly trained cast of instructors who specialize in teaching all aspects of adaptive snow sports. People with all manner of disabilities have the opportunity to hit the slopes and experience the freedom of sliding down the mountain.

You may well have seen a sit-ski of some design rip past you on the slopes or seen a blind skier being led down the slopes by their guide while you are out in a resort. With the right equipment and instructor snow sports can be accessible to almost anyone, and just a glance at the top-level athletes in adaptive snowsports show you how dynamic it can be.

Neige have a full range of equipment from mono- and bi-skis, tethers, speakers for visually impaired skiers, outriggers for 3 and 4 track, and of course highly trained instructors who are equally comfortable introducing people to adaptive snow sports or honing already developed skills. They were previous based at Kayama Coast but due to the closure of that resort, they have made Yuzawa Nakazato their new home for this season.