Ski for Angela Fundraiser
Donation protected
While everyone has had a difficult time getting new skis this year with the increase in the sports popularity, it has been much more difficult for Angela in her pursuit of finding a Sit Ski. Angela has been an active member of WNSC and we are asking folks to consider making a $1/km donation for their Saturday ski. Volunteers will be at the lodge parking lot - socially distanced - from 12 - 3 to collect donations. We started this go fund me page as alternative way for people to donate or participate from other areas
Angela tells her story best:
I lost my leg December 2016 to a bad bone infection. I had been a recreational skier for years before that. We then moved to GP summer 2017. Fall 2017 we had a massive snowfall in early November. I remember coming to the club to get my membership on opening day, You recommended the forest trails as easy so away I went.
Fell about 50 times but eventually figured out how to ski with a prosthetic leg. Just had to keep getting back up and trying.
From that point on I skied about every day possible and learned that night skiing isn't as terrifying as your mind thinks it is.
I don't think most other skiers even knew I had a prosthetic leg. The loppets were so much fun and with some encouragement I started going out with Chicks. I was scared I would hold people back and didn't want to be 'that' person but it turns out I could keep up just fine.
From March on this year I've been fighting a severe bone infection in what was left of my left lower leg and knee. Losing my knee would mean never stand ski again, would make my job horrendously harder, and riding my horse with 2 legs impossible. I had 10 surgeries and 7 months of daily hospital trips for antibiotics. I've been off work since May. What's left of my left leg may let me stand ski again one day, but right now we have to be so careful with it that I won't even have a prosthetic leg again for months. Even if we save my knee I may not be able to stand ski again and the sit ski offers an alternative way to be part of the ski community here in Grande Prairie.
The nordic ski club has been the best thing about moving to Grande Prairie. I went from 1 pair of skis and using them 2-3x a year to 4 pairs used almost daily or twice daily! Learned to skate ski, made lots of friends. We are so lucky to have the access we do to such amazing trails and support.
Sit skiing is a para olympic sport. However it is really hard to find one to use, and they are quite specialized to your unique needs! A couple groups in Alberta have 1 or 2 for lessons and that's it. Purchasing a new one runs about 4000-5000 dollars. I have found a lightly used one from the man who builds them for the US para nordic program that he has been able to modify to fit my needs. Coming from Colorado it ends up being $3000 Canadian.
My goal if things go well with it this season would be to get some training to teach para skiers and hopefully with some government and city funding get a few different styles of sit skis to offer a para nordic lesson group here at WNSC one day so others in a similar position as me may also enjoy the beauty and serenity this place has to offer.
The Facebook event can be found here
link to Facebook event
Angela tells her story best:
I lost my leg December 2016 to a bad bone infection. I had been a recreational skier for years before that. We then moved to GP summer 2017. Fall 2017 we had a massive snowfall in early November. I remember coming to the club to get my membership on opening day, You recommended the forest trails as easy so away I went.
Fell about 50 times but eventually figured out how to ski with a prosthetic leg. Just had to keep getting back up and trying.
From that point on I skied about every day possible and learned that night skiing isn't as terrifying as your mind thinks it is.I don't think most other skiers even knew I had a prosthetic leg. The loppets were so much fun and with some encouragement I started going out with Chicks. I was scared I would hold people back and didn't want to be 'that' person but it turns out I could keep up just fine.
From March on this year I've been fighting a severe bone infection in what was left of my left lower leg and knee. Losing my knee would mean never stand ski again, would make my job horrendously harder, and riding my horse with 2 legs impossible. I had 10 surgeries and 7 months of daily hospital trips for antibiotics. I've been off work since May. What's left of my left leg may let me stand ski again one day, but right now we have to be so careful with it that I won't even have a prosthetic leg again for months. Even if we save my knee I may not be able to stand ski again and the sit ski offers an alternative way to be part of the ski community here in Grande Prairie.
The nordic ski club has been the best thing about moving to Grande Prairie. I went from 1 pair of skis and using them 2-3x a year to 4 pairs used almost daily or twice daily! Learned to skate ski, made lots of friends. We are so lucky to have the access we do to such amazing trails and support.
Sit skiing is a para olympic sport. However it is really hard to find one to use, and they are quite specialized to your unique needs! A couple groups in Alberta have 1 or 2 for lessons and that's it. Purchasing a new one runs about 4000-5000 dollars. I have found a lightly used one from the man who builds them for the US para nordic program that he has been able to modify to fit my needs. Coming from Colorado it ends up being $3000 Canadian.
My goal if things go well with it this season would be to get some training to teach para skiers and hopefully with some government and city funding get a few different styles of sit skis to offer a para nordic lesson group here at WNSC one day so others in a similar position as me may also enjoy the beauty and serenity this place has to offer.
The Facebook event can be found here
link to Facebook event
Organizer
Angela Oakley
Organizer
Grande Prairie, AB
