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REHABILITATION EVENTS
SKIBOB 2004 SOELDEN - BLESMA Ssibob Rehabilitation Event 20th - 27th February 2004
report by Ray Holland OBE BEM
This year was a unique occasion in one very special way. Henry Wuga MBE, who has been associated with disabled ski bobbing almost from its inception, was celebrating his 80th birthday on 23rd February and this special anniversary fell within the BLESMA week.
Henry and ‘Auntie’ Ingrid are known to scores of BLESMA Ski Bobbers where for a decade and a half he was our Chief Instructor and subsequently Instructor in Chief. Although he formally retired two years ago, he had expressed a wish to bob on his birthday this year. We were delighted to accommodate this wish and to have him with us as the independent SAGB examiner for an instructor’s course.
He willingly accepted the invitation but in his inimitable way, decided he must make an additional contribution to the event. He wrote to his many friends worldwide seeking contributions to his three charities. In so doing he raised over £10,000 of which he donated in excess of £3,000 to BLESMA for skibob rehabilitation. We are immensely grateful for this generous gift particularly from one who has done so much for the Association. We celebrated his birthday in style and were assisted in this by Markus Streiter, the owner of Hotel Neue Post.
Dozens of birthday cards flooded in, many from our own ski bobbers including one from a Member serving in Iraq.
Notwithstanding strenuous efforts to get him to ease off, this had to be abandoned after two days (it was far too stressful for me) with Henry on the slopes and actively participating as in past days. We were delighted too, that Ingrid again took to the slopes after an accident two years ago.
The core week took place from 20th to 27th February with applications well in excess of places available with difficult decisions having to be taken. Unlike last year, weather conditions were not good although the last two days could not have been better. Although there was good snow, we had more than our fair share of wind, sleet and heavy mist. Nevertheless, apart from one morning devoted to theory and revision, the party were on the slopes each day.
As for many years now, Lord Sterling, Chairman of P & O Ferries provided complimentary tickets for the advance party and access to the Club lounge. Once again, our heartfelt thanks to Lord Sterling, his staff at Dover and the Masters of the Pride of Dover and P & O Aquitaine.
On arrival at Soelden we were met by Herr Thomas Scheiber of the Cable car company who provided the party with concessional Ski passes. The Operations Director, Herr Helmut Kuprian made the usual arrangements for storing our bobs on the mountain and briefed his many lift operators on the special needs of amputees. Messrs Riml, through Carl and Cindy, provided us with heated storage for boots and other items of personal equipment and helped in many other ways. To them all, many thanks indeed.
Recent regulations introduced by the FISB coupled with insurance requirements now place more emphasis on safety. Risk assessments and warnings about drinking on the piste are now the order of the day. As a result of past experience, we reintroduced the teaching format first used by the late Dick Archard and Henry Wuga to ensure that students were not allowed to exceed their capacity to be in control of their Bob. This has resulted in a much better basic grounding and knowledge of the sport and assists in instilling confidence at an early stage.
Jonathan Wright MBE provided prosthetic support and medical advice in addition to instructing duties.
Chris Livett provided overall instructional supervision covering basic tuition and an instructors course at which Brendan West and Colin Rouse were successful.
Our congratulations to them both. We welcome back Chris Jones after an absence of some 15 years. His first trip was as a BK amputee and this latest event saw him as AK amputee with the additional problems this brings. He not only managed to achieve a Bronze medal for his efforts but won outright the Chief Instructor’s Shield for the most dramatic “white out” after attempting to surmount a three foot ice wall!!
Nigel Smith also rejoined us after an absence of some years and obtained a Bronze medal. Phil Watkins successfully upgraded to Silver. Major Bob McClelland QGM and David Tweed who were attempting ski bobbing for the first time also joined us. Bob obtained a Bronze plus grading showing that turn of speed reminiscent of those that have had involvement with either the Marines or Paras! David Tweed quickly adapted to the Bob but his severe injury made riding the equipment at the best uncomfortable and frequently painful. Fitted up with a Mono-Ski he gave a superb performance and earned the admiration of three experienced skiers who he joined on the last day. He has formed the Manchester Amputee Football Club in association with Manchester City FC and is its Secretary. He was an inspiration to us all.
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British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association