Here is some information that should help make the process easier for those looking at joining the club. If you have any questions please email us at [email protected].
Our members are called athletes, so that is the terminology that we will use on this page.
Who is SOWM Ski Group for?
Special Olympics West Midlands Ski Group (abbreviated to ‘SOWM’) is for those with intellectual disabilities who meet Special Olympics GB’s (SOGB) eligibility criteria.
In short:
- The athlete must be seven or older to train with us
- The athlete must be eight or older to compete in race days
- There is no upper age limit
My athlete can’t ski, is that a problem?
We welcome those that have never skied before; all new athletes start on the beginner slope with a higher ratio of instructors/volunteers.
Note
Because we have to check instructor and volunteer availability to confirm we have coverage of the beginner slope and main slope it may be a few sessions before we can slot you in. This may mean for their first few sessions with us we have to work extra closely together to confirm there’s suitable availability.
All athletes must be able to safely control their speed and direction before they move onto the main slope. There’s no rush to progress from the beginner slope to the main slope - everyone learns at their own pace.
In most cases, once the athlete has progressed from the beginner slope to the main slope there’s less need to coordinate individual sessions as the athlete can typically be coached without needing one-on-one support.
My athlete can ski already, can we come along?
Wonderful! In much the same way as someone who has never skied before, we will ensure that there is a higher ratio of instructors/volunteers than what is required for a typical training session. This is to support the athlete as we will need to assess their ability on the beginner slope before moving to the main slope. The athlete must demonstrate the ability to control their turns and stop on the beginner slope before they can go on the main slope.
Note
As we make sure that there’s a higher ratio of instructors/volunteers, even for those that join us already able to ski, this may mean it’s a few sessions before we can slot you in.
The main slope requires the use of a button lift; if they haven’t used one before then that’s absolutely fine.
It’s worth bearing in mind that there may still be a learning curve as dry slope skiing does feel different to skiing on snow.
Where do you train?
We train at Ackers Adventure (’the Ackers’) in Birmingham. Their address is:
Ackers Adventure, Golden Hillock Rd, Small Heath, Birmingham, B11 2PY
When do you train?
Our diary contains our upcoming training sessions. We split the training session into two one hour long sessions; some athletes will ski in the first session between 10:00 and 11:00 and some athletes will ski in the second session between 11:00 and 12:00. Athletes do not ski both sessions.
When you reach out to us we’ll arrange a date for you and your athlete to come along.
If you’d like to come see the group before committing to a ski session then please get in touch, we’re a chatty and friendly bunch.
What do I need to bring to the ski session?
Before the athlete’s first session you will need to complete a brief health and information form. Feel free to complete it digitally and email it to [email protected], or print it and bring a physical copy to the session. If you’d like us to post you a physical copy that can be arranged. Without this form being completed the athlete cannot ski with us.
Info
Please let us know before attending the planned session if you have answered “yes” to any of the health questions.
The athlete will also require suitable clothing, which includes:
- Gloves
- A long sleeve top or jumper to cover their arms
- Salopettes, tracksuit bottoms or jeans to cover their legs
We can provide a ski helmet; helmets must be worn on the slope.
How much does it cost?
The first session with us is free as a taster, after that it’s £12.50 per session.
The group pays the Ackers directly so this payment of £12.50 helps cover the cost to us. It includes equipment rental from the the Ackers as well as access to the slope. We genrally prefer to accept payment via bank transfers and will be happy to supply our bank details. We can provide invoices if they are required.
Do you do any skiing on snow?
As a group we normally have one trip abroad per year - either to Pila, Italy (which is organised by the group) or to wherever the National Winter Games is held. We try to do one weekend trip within the UK per year, which is usually to Hemel Hempstead. The group is largely race focused, but there’s no pressure to compete. We host our own race day once per year and we attend the race days of other Special Olympics groups too.
What happens if my athlete wishes to continue skiing with SOWM?
As a Special Olympics GB accredited club, we adhere to SOGB’s eligibility criteria. The athlete can attend around five sessions to work out if skiing is for them before we need to look at registering them with SOGB. If the athlete is already registered through another Special Olympics GB club then we do not need to register them again. This process may sound scary, but it’s straightforward and we can help you through it.
Our athletes must all be registered with SOGB, regardless of if they intend to compete in races.
Tip
When it comes to registering with SOGB, please engage with us on the process. If the athlete isn’t registered in a timely manner we may have to ask them to stop training with us until they are registered with SOGB.
We look forward to hearing from you! If you wish to join us, reach out to us at [email protected].