Peak Northwest

Breaking down barriers for skiers with disabilities


Listen Later

For some skiers, it’s not as easy as heading up to the mountain, strapping on a pair of skis and hitting the slopes.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we speak with Carl Burnett, an adaptive ski racer who has been working with Oregon Adaptive Sports, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking down the barriers faced by athletes with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities.

In winter, the organization heads to three Oregon ski areas to give people access to specialized equipment and training that might be otherwise be difficult to access. In summer, they do the same thing on cycling, hiking and mountain bike trails in central Oregon.

According to Burnett, the mission is not just about helping skiers with disabilities, but showing the rest of the community what’s possible.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

  • What are the different barriers faced by skiers with disabilities?
  • Gaining access to the outdoors can be a profound experience for those who might find it difficult to get there.
  • How do you teach somebody who’s new to a sit ski?
  • Opening up the mountain to skiers of all abilities can be inspirational for the whole community.

  • Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

    -- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Peak NorthwestBy The Oregonian/OregonLive

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    106 ratings


    More shows like Peak Northwest

    View all
    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,055 Listeners

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

    38,617 Listeners

    Marketplace by Marketplace

    Marketplace

    8,595 Listeners

    Fresh Air by NPR

    Fresh Air

    38,176 Listeners

    Open to Debate by Open to Debate

    Open to Debate

    2,133 Listeners

    Think Out Loud by Oregon Public Broadcasting

    Think Out Loud

    265 Listeners

    Planet Money by NPR

    Planet Money

    30,877 Listeners

    Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

    Freakonomics Radio

    32,066 Listeners

    99% Invisible by Roman Mars

    99% Invisible

    26,155 Listeners

    Slate Money by Slate Podcasts

    Slate Money

    1,017 Listeners

    Outside/In by NHPR

    Outside/In

    1,440 Listeners

    OPB Politics Now by Oregon Public Broadcasting

    OPB Politics Now

    220 Listeners

    Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues by Zach Urness / Statesman Journal

    Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues

    111 Listeners

    City Cast Portland by City Cast

    City Cast Portland

    170 Listeners

    The Recipe with Kenji and Deb by Deb Perelman & J. Kenji López-Alt

    The Recipe with Kenji and Deb

    459 Listeners