Participate in CADS

Join The Fun!

CADS is looking for enthusiastic persons with disabilities who seek to take part in our exciting adaptive skiing and snowboarding lessons. We welcome participants of all skill levels and use adaptive equipment and strategies to encourage fun, progression, and skill development, so you leave the mountain enjoying the slopes as much as we do!

Lessons take place on Sunday evenings from 7-9 PM at Canadian Olympic Park, from January through March.

Our ultimate goal is to help participants become proficient enough to ski or board with family or friends on their own time.

Experience the Joy of Adaptive Snow Sports!

Register with CADS and develop adaptive skiing and snowboarding skills.

Find The Group For You

CADS is designed to facilitate the joys of skiing and snowboarding for individuals with a wide variety of challenges, from the ages of 6 to adults of any age. After an introductory meeting, CADS participants are placed in the appropriate group and paired with a compatible instructor in order to maximize their experience.

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Neurodiverse (Formally DD): Our participants are of all ages who require a slower and/or more repetitive approach in learning since they have disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X, extreme Autism, brain injury etc. The ski student will be paired with one or more volunteers to ensure a fun learning environment during the lesson. Questions can be directed to Lawrence at [email protected].

Cognitive Learning Disabled: The Cognitive Learning Disabled group is ideal for able-bodied participants of all ages with average or above average learning ability who have difficulty learning new skills or attending in group instruction due to cognitive disabilities such as attention deficits, behavior issues, autism, brain injury or other cognitive issues. The one-on-one instruction by trained volunteers does result in the learning of skiing skills that lead to the enjoyment of the wonderful winter sport of skiing. Questions can be directed to Jan at [email protected].

Blind or Visually Impaired: If your visual challenge prevents you from taking regular ski or snowboard lessons, we can help you. Your visual challenge can include but not be limited to poor or low vision (20/200 or worse) no depth perception, blind spots, deteriorating vision, tunnel vision or no vision (complete blindness). Questions can be directed to Don at [email protected].

Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Lessons are taught with special awareness to hearing loss for those living with total or partially reduced hearing capabilities. Questions can be directed to Kim at [email protected].

3-Track & 4-Track: This group is best suited for participants with any type of amputation, single, double above or below the knee skiing with or without a prosthesis. This group is also suitable for participants with Polio, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, emiplegia or other conditions that cause low leg strength and would benefit from skiing with outriggers. Questions can be directed to Russ at [email protected].

Sitski Participate with CADS Calgary

Sitski (Mono ski or Quad Ski): Participants that do not have leg strength to stand and ski for a full lesson can ski in one of three types of sit-ski, with or without hand outriggers this group is also suitable for participants with brain injuries, cerebral palsy or spinal cord injuries that requires the use of a wheelchair. Our Instructors will maximize your participation in skiing while always keeping you as safe as possible, whether it is tipping you head to initiate a turn on a quad-ski or skiing independently in a mono ski. Typically, Quad skis are best suited for participants requiring more mobility assistance and mono skis are better suited for participants looking to gain more independence in their ski experience. Questions for Quad ski can be directed to Dave at [email protected] and questions for Mono ski can be directed to Tori at [email protected].

Snowboard: For anyone who wants to slide sideways!! This group is able to accommodate a range of physical or neurological differences. Participants who are experienced skiers looking for a new challenge or for any new participants who prefer snowboards as a platform. Physiology (e.g., duck-foot gait or hemiparesis) may be better accommodated with this equipment. A range of equipment and techniques are available to support developing riders. Questions can be directed to Thom at [email protected].

Advanced Ski Group: All ski disciplines are represented in this group typically participants in this group have been referred to move on by their supervisors or have joined CADS already knowing how to ski and
are looking for more advanced lessons. Students work in a group setting to reach their own personal goals during the season with the direction of CADS volunteers. There are 2 streams in the advanced group recreational for those looking to develop and increase their ski skills and competitive training for those looking to develop and increase their ski skills using a learn to race format that is more focused on individual learning and training under the guidance of a Ski Coach. Questions for the recreational/group setting can be directed to Clare at [email protected] and questions for technical/learn to race program can be directed to Jorgen at [email protected].

What Participants Are Saying

5 years ago I didn't even know what skiing was, Now, Look where we are. It has opened up such another world for me, it gives me the freedom to do things i typically wouldn't have been able to do without you guys.  I have a classmate at school who says they dont like skiing, that they find it boring and I just cant wrap my head around that. Skiing has given me so many more opportunities than I could have ever have imagined. Its given me good and bad experiences... ( but mostly good) but we learn from those bad experiences. we learn where we went wrong and learn how to fix those issues. there is always something to be working on.

I cannot say enough good things about CADS and everything you and everyone else there do for us. It is so greatly appreciated. I have such a great and wonderful coach ( Ted ).  He ( and everyone else over the years) have taught me so much and 5 years ago i would have NEVER imagined myself being where I am today.

Working with everyone there has been absolutely life changing and i cannot thank you all enough for it.  You guys have taught me so much and its amazing. I look forward to coming back year round ever year.

Thank you for everything!!!

Curtis R

Participant

This is Gabriel, I am 13 years old and have participated in the CADS program for 3 years and would like to continue this year as well. Cads has made a tremendous difference in my life by helping me with my hand/eye coordination. I am getting much better at doing this however, I still need to work on this. I love skiing and look forward to it every year, it has given me greater confidence in all aspects.  I am learning to ask for help when I need it.  I am learning better technique and really love the sport.

Without CADS and the wonderful volunteers skiing would not be possible for me.  I have had some amazing volunteers and I have always had great experiences.  I am thankful for everything that all of you do for me. I have learned to push myself to be a better athlete.

Skiing has always been a large part of my year because I am able to get out of the house more. Skiing has had such an impact on me, I am starting to love the cold and snow just because that mean better skiing conditions. I loved skiing so much that the only way that I would miss it is if I was puking and unable to move.

To me skiing is a Canadian tradition and it honors me that I am able to be a part of it. Every night that skiing happens I am always happy to go out even if it is freezing cold no matter what I will enjoy skiing.

Gabriel P

Participant
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Fee Schedule

CADS Calgary is able to provide lessons at a significantly reduced rate, thanks to generous donations, sponsorships and fundraising efforts that offset the actual program costs. Equipment rental fees are set by Winsport Canada Olympic Park and we greatly appreciate the reduced rate at which they are provided to us.
Membership $56.50
Lesson Fee $400.00
Equipment Rental - Quad/Mono/Bi-ski $75.00 (all ages)
Equipment Rental – Skis/Snowboard $50.00
Equipment Rental – Outriggers $50.00
Helmet Rental $48.00
Mountain Ski Club $450.00
Participant fees subject to change on year to year basis.

Are You Ready To Get Started?

We are using a new online registration system this year called Snowline.  Please read the following carefully.

  • Students will be able to request their choice of programs Starting October 1st.
  • This is an application to register, not a confirmation of a spot.  Payment will be requested when the Supervisors confirm volunteers and equipment.
  • Please log into your profile if returning or set up a profile if you are applying to be a new student
  • Be sure to complete all forms and waivers and enter all your information
  • If a section is not completed it will not have a check mark and will be still red and noted incomplete
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Questions?

Contact us today to help empower people with disabilities through participation in adaptive snowsports.