Research Activity Number Eight

Activity: Heli-Skiing (Preferably in Alaska) 

Target participant group: Lower or Upper Limb Amputees

Therapeutic potential of this activity: To provide participants with the opportunity to do an amazingly fun extreme sport that most only dream of. To allow participants to feel the exhilarating rush of being high in the untouchable mountains and to forget about their disability. For participants to feel free and unattached from anything in life that may be holding them down.

What other groups may benefit from this activity?

A group that may benefit from this activity would be high-functioning participants, participants that are deaf and possibly at-risk youth.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?

Groups that this activity would not be appropriate for would be the majority of geriatric participants, low-functioning participants, and blind participants.

Activity description: This activity can be done with a few participants or as an individual. Participants can organize their own heli-skiing experience or could set up a heli-skiing session with a tour. If participants do a heli-skiing tour they are given different options such as having a guide specialist come along or a personal videographer to record their amazing runs.  

Resources needed: A helicopter and adaptive ski equipment.

Best leadership style for this activity: Laissez-Faire Leadership

Where did you find this activity?

I found this activity on the following website, (14 Extreme Travel Activities to Get Your Heart Pumping) http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/10-12/14-extreme-travel-activities-to-get-your-heart-pumping.html. I thought this activity was a great “out of the box” experience.

Where can others find more information on this activity?

Others can find more about this activity on the following websites, (14 Extreme Travel Activities to Get Your Heart Pumping) http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/10-12/14-extreme-travel-activities-to-get-your-heart-pumping.html and (Heli-Skiing-Helicopter Skiing) http://skiing.about.com/od/downhillskiing/a/heliskiinginfo.htm.