Steamboat Gets Lift Operator Training on PWD

This afternoon we spent some time at the Christy Sixpack under still-snowing skies with eight Lift Operations and Maintenance Supervisors in an adaptive equipment training session. After a twenty minute discussion on equipment types, disability awareness, maze and loading preferences, and legalities for adaptive riders, the crew took turns back-loading (pull-back) Craig and his Revolution Pro Comp onto the sixpack, giving Craig several turns down Preview after two weeks off the slopes.

This training is the final stage of an all-department awareness and update training on handling customers with disabilities. We are very proud of to have this opportunity with Steamboat's employees to make our ski area the best it can be for all our visitors and their special needs. Other ski areas go through similar training for their lift operators, and our goal as always is to make Steamboat #1.

Future plans are to have a repeat training session with more staff as well as today's staff who was eager to try the equipment themselves. Due to lack of outriggers, we were not able to put today's participants in the monoski and biski, but many expressed interest to do so, and we'll keep you posted on that when it happens!

Myrtle Beach Revisited

For many of you who read this regularly, you'll remember that Andy was in Myrtle Beach in October of 2007, researching the area for a few magazines and visiting her "sister" Heather. This holiday season Andy got to return to the area with Craig and her parents in tow, testing out the hotel, restaurants, golf, and tourist hot spots the true way, with the wheelchair.

Glad to report that most things did pass Craig's test. The few obstacles we ran into were minor, and despite some cloudy weather, we got to enjoy Myrtle Beach free of rain, crowds, and major barriers.

We stayed at the Island Vista Resort again, and it passed with mostly flying colors. Don't park on level 2 however, as there are 4 steps down into the hallway from there. Park in the designated access spots in front of the hotel or on level 3. The other hotel obstacle was the kitchen... when Heather and I stayed at this hotel, we occupied the 3 bedroom suite as media guests of the hotel through one of their advertised press trips that newly opening hotels offer. This time however the four of us stayed in a 2 bedroom and the refrigerator wasn't accessible. If Craig rolled into the kitchen, he couldn't open the fridge more than a few inches, making it impossible to get anything out of. A side-by-side fridge would fix this problem. Other than that, the pool and hot tubs were very accessible, but the beach wasn't. Again, steps down to the beach could be solved with a ramp, but Myrtle Beach's beaches are a test in themselves. With dune-like erosion that MB is constantly dealing with, most of the access walkways to the beach are also inhibited with steps. Unfortunate but true, you will likely need help to the beach if you come here to soak in the ocean. Luckily for us the ocean was frigid and not tempting enough for Craig to brave the soft sand.

We golfed at Myrtlewood and although they stated over the phone that their adaptive cart was solorider, it was either a very early model or not a solorider as the seat didn't raise up, just swiveled out. This isn't the best option for taller paraplegics who need to get above their legs to swing, but it's doable. Craig mustered the best score of the day despite the lack of desired equipment. He also managed to break a rental club. OOPS. Blame it on the swivel.

Other highlights: MagiQuest and nearby Dragon Lair mini golf passed the test with full access, as did the downtown arcade skeeball and all.

We were even able to rent a vehicle at the small Charleston Airport with handcontrols through Thrifty for a dirt cheap weekly rate of $180. Tip on rental cars, book early; like MONTHS in advance to get cheap rates in holiday destinations.

Happy Holidays to you all!

Working Out in a Wheelchair

This is the time of year we all start to think about our shape- whether it's getting in shape, staying in shape, feeling healthier, or working off those holiday eating frenzies, it's on everyone's mind. And although this topic is good any time of year, it's proven that workout regimes that begin before the holidays are more successful in the long run. Whether you're getting in shape for another sport or just doing it to feel good, hitting the gym is a great thing to do if you're in a wheelchair.

So today I followed Craig around the gym to get some tips for our valued readers on working out. Craig's been hitting the gym hard even on the days he skis to get ready for the 1st annual Legends of the Deep Powder Invitational we're hosting here in January, but he's seeing the results on the slopes already. Keeping a regular work-out schedule builds endurance and energy in addition to muscle, and it improves your overall attitude as well. Top it off with a soak or a steam and your muscles will thank you!

Always start your workout with a good stretch warm up. Loosen up those muscles you're about to use for their own safety. It's a little harder in a wheelchair, there aren't many cardio machines out there for wheelers, but you may want to put a request into your gym to buy one. Remind them that even able bodies can use them while rehabilitating after surgery. But windmills, stretches, and anything that loosens up your arms is a great start. Don't forget to stretch or soak at the end of your workout as well to let your body adjust to new muscle mass.

Craig's Typical Workout
Craig starts his workout with situps on this crunch machine. He rotates this part into his workout twice, as with anyone, a strong core is a strong body. But also, without his leg muscles, Craig's abs are his largest muscle group and make up the bulk of his strength for skiing. In addition to the crunch machine he adds an oblique twist because these side ab muscles are just as important as the front ones.

Next he moves on to the freeweights. Doing the shoulder press, bicept curls, and tricept lifts, Craig makes sure to hit every arm muscle group several times from different angles. Doing this builds the most strength and muscle diversity possible. Also make sure to do longer sets (12-15 reps) to build leaner, flexible muslces, and add weight when you feel ready.

Active Blogs Elsewhere

Blogging has exploded.
Blogger has been joined by WordPress and Ning and even social networks like one-liner Twitter; now there truly are 100 blogs on every subject. Which one to choose? How to keep track? How to sign up? How to keep them organized?

These are the questions that we get asked often and there's no way around it, you have to put some time into organizing them. We've found Flock to be the best portal to organize our RSS subscriptions in the neat one-column action bar that appears on the left side of this browser. Knowing a little about RSS helps first, download Flock once you do, and start leap-frogging yourself thru the internet to find blogs that you want to subscribe to. Like magazines you trust, some blogs and topics are really like free magazines; tourism pictures, trusted writers, educational topics, and links upon links to other avenues for continuing your "education."

Here's what we're reading and writing...
In the Deep - a monoskiers ski blog
Marketing to Travelers with Disabilities - learn tips on marketing to this growing niche
CO History of Inclusion Tourism - for Scott Rains' TourWatch

Rolling Rains Report - Universal Design and more
Barrier Free Travels - Candy Harringtons' Travel Blog (unfortunately and discouragingly without an RSS feed)
Photopreneur - Making money with photography
Almost Fearless - When a CEO quits corporate and travels for a living
Nathan Lovas Photography - Wildlife and Conservation Photography


Your Blog:
If you start your own blog, make sure to get traffic to it by pinging to Google and Yahoo often and adding it to groups like Technorati, Blog Network, Digg, as well as double-posting it to your various social network pages like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn.

Winter Calendar of Events, Trips, and Sports Camps

Christmas Week, Myrtle Beach SC
- We hope to help make Myrtle Beach a top destination for adaptive golfers

January 12-15, 4th Annual All Mountain Ski Camp, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
- Advanced adults adaptive skiers, snowboarders, 3 trackers, and monoskiers
- Camp includes 3 days skiing at Steamboat and 1 day in the backcountry with PowderCats
- View photos and videos from previous camps here

January 16, 1st Annual Legends of the Deep Powder Invitational, Buffalo Pass, Colorado
- 6 world-class powder skiers unite for bragging rights in the powder
- Look for this event in the future to be featured on major channels with big name sponsors!

March 2-4, Houston, TX, 2nd meeting of the Continental Airlines Disability Advisory Board
- 12 Consultants for Travelers with Disabilities help make this airline best in the industry

March 8-17, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Xian China with Spring Tour of San Francisco
- 30 participants get to experience Spring Tour's first accessible tour to China
- Four cities, luxury hotels, dinner shows, and more!
- Contact Jimmy Deng for sign up and pricing: ytbchina@spring-tour.com, (800) 627-0886

March 21-23, 1st Annual Kids Ski Camp, Steamboat Springs, CO
- 12-15 kids from around the country join together to improve their adaptive skills

April 2009, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun Mexico
- Spreading accessibility to our southern neighbor, stay tuned for our update, improvements, and suggestions in these areas!