How an Austrian ski village makes its slopes accessible

DW (English)

Find out what makes the mountains and resorts of Kaunertal in Tirol a top destination for skiiers with disabilities.

Transcript

00:00What hurdles do people with disabilities face on skiing holidays?

00:05And how can accommodations and ski resorts become truly barrier-free?

00:09We joined adaptive skier Thomas Grundmann in the Alps to find out.

00:16You can't fix a spinal cord injury. You have to keep your muscles active.

00:20Let me put it this way. A spinal cord injury changes your life, but not for the worse.

00:26Thomas loves the mountains, snow and winter sports.

00:30He's been mono-skiing for over two years now.

00:33A diving accident in 2008 left part of his body paralyzed.

00:38Since then, he's used a wheelchair.

00:44I used to love skiing and snowboarding, but after the accident, I couldn't do anything.

00:49Then I started ski-bobbing, but you need leg strength for that, and mine got worse and worse.

00:56And then I switched to mono-skiing, which is great.

00:59I can use all types of lifts – toes, pullers and so on – and can ski down most slopes.

01:06Except for black runs, of course, that wouldn't work.

01:10Austria's Kaunertal Glacier Ski Resort is one of the most accessible regions for winter sports enthusiasts with disabilities.

01:18Whenever Thomas takes a winter vacation, he comes here.

01:29It's quite unusual.

01:31I don't think any other Austrian resort offers so many opportunities for skiers with disabilities.

01:36Gondola operators push and pull you onto the lift.

01:39They spread out mats and they'll stop the chairlifts so you don't fall off.

01:43They're great. It's unique here.

01:51Thomas enjoys getting around the ski resort on his own.

01:55So what's needed to ensure accessibility for all?

01:59Ski runs must be well-prepared, and ski lifts must be well-equipped.

02:05Our staff help mono-skiers every day.

02:09We don't specifically train our staff, because every mono-skier has different needs.

02:15Some have greater mobility than others.

02:19And so for us it's learning by doing.

02:23We talk to the mono-skiers and ask how we can be of assistance.

02:27It's all about communication.

02:36Mono-skiers can enjoy the entire resort, with some ski runs at 3,000 metres above sea level.

02:43But what about ski lifts?

02:46Mono-skiers can enjoy the entire resort, with some ski runs at 3,000 metres above sea level.

02:54We've laid out plastic mats that make it easier for mono-skiers to glide over than regular ones.

03:03As you can hear, they glide more easily.

03:08People with disabilities and those accompanying them can get discounted ski passes at this ski resort.

03:16Ski instructor Robert Tropiker helps Thomas get the most out of his experience.

03:23Robert also uses a mono-ski.

03:28Let the ski do its job.

03:31Shift your position and lean in.

03:34Let it glide, go for it, you got it.

03:37Check your posture, lean forward, stay in position.

03:41Good job.

03:43He's got good upper body mobility, he isn't afraid and he's motivated.

03:47He's doing really well.

03:50Don't get too close, so you've got a larger angle of attack and can react better.

03:55Good, much better.

04:01Kaunertal is unique because they're basically pioneers.

04:04They made the ski resort wheelchair-accessible and battery-powered.

04:08They made the ski resort wheelchair-accessible and barrier-free 25 or 30 years ago.

04:13But things have improved a lot all over Austria in the last 20 years.

04:1965-year-old Thomas lives in Hamburg, Germany.

04:23He works as a surgeon in a large hospital.

04:27He met his partner Nadine Witt in 2021.

04:31Nadine runs an association that promotes mobility and diversity on the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn.

04:38The 900-kilometer drive from northern Germany to Austria took them about 10 hours.

04:44I think many people are unaware of all the opportunities available to people with disabilities.

04:50Our aim is to show people what's possible.

04:54Everyone has the right to exercise, and that's what we want to promote.

05:01Improving accessibility for everyone.

05:04This ski resort shows how it can be done.

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