The 2021 Adaptive Snow Sports Festival

Festival attendees gather for a group picture.

A few weeks ago, the Blind Sport NZ team flew down to Queenstown to attend the 2021 Adaptive Snow Sports Festival. Over 60 athletes, family members, and volunteers traveled from across the country to attend, making this the biggest turnout for the festival yet. Amongst this group were six vision-impaired participants.

A vision-impaired athlete and guide ski down the mountain, with blue skies in the distance.

Taking place at The Remarkables, a stunning mountain range in the South Island of New Zealand, participants spent three days on the slopes alongside experienced guides and instructors. An event for adapted skiers of all ages and levels, some participants were learning to ski for the first time, while others were there to hone their skills and have fun with their peers. All vision-impaired skiers were paired up with a sighted guide, who skied alongside them offering verbal cues to help them to navigate their way down the slopes.

Casey from Blind Sport NZ, and six blind and low vision athletes pose with their hands in the air in the cafe.

Day one provided clear blue skies and warm weather, making it the perfect day for our beginners to learn the basics, while the more experienced skiers headed further up the mountain to take in the views and get in some runs. On days two and three the snow came down thick and fast as participants took to the slopes for another two full days of skiing. On day three, athletes got to put their skills to the test, participating in time trials. Each competitor completed the course a number of times, attempting to improve on their previous time.

The Blind Sport NZ team had the best time at the festival, and can’t wait for next year!

Want to see more from the Adapted Snow Sports Festival? Check out our pictures below, and make sure you head to Snow Sports NZ’s Facebook page for some epic photos and videos!

Image description: Image taken outside cafe at the Remarkables, featuring "Adaptive Snow Sports Festival" sign, snowy mountains and blue sky. A chair lift can be seen in the background.

Image description: Image taken from up the chair lift at the Remarkables, looking down towards the cafe, with mountains and blue sky in the distance.

Image description: Blind Sport NZ's Casey and a vision-impaired athlete stand outside the cafe, before they make their way to the chairlift.

Image description: Vision impaired athletes and their guides make their way to the chairlift.

Image description: A vision-impaired athlete and guide ski down the mountain.

Image description: A vision-impaired athlete and guide take a break before continuing to ski down the mountain.

Image description: A young vision-impaired athlete and his instructor use the magic carpet on the beginner slope.

Image description: A young vision-impaired athlete taking a lesson from an instructor on the beginner slope. Behind them the magic carpets, chairlifts, top of the mountain, and blue sky can be seen.

Image description: A vision-impaired athlete and her guide ski down the slopes.

Image description: A vision-impaired athlete and guide ski down the mountain during a timed race.

Image description: A vision-impaired athlete and guide ski down the mountain during a timed race.

Image description: A vision-impaired athlete and guide ski down the mountain during a timed race.