Page 10 - 2020 Winter CMTA Report

ADAPT, THEN SKI

HOW SARAH KESTY TOOK ON THE SLOPES

Editor’s Note: CMTA Advisory Board members Sarah Kesty and Greg
Stillwell got together in Durango, Colorado, last winter for what turned
out to be a life-changing experience. Sarah not only learned to ride a
ski bike, but Greg and Missy Thompson analyzed her gait, showing her
that it is possible to change the way one walks, even with CMT.
was incredibly hard. It took a always seen skiing as a representa-
lower leg strength that I just didn’t tion of freedom. It was that and so
have. And the other form of brak- much more.
ing, falling on my butt, was No one ever said to me,
embarrassing and painful. The “Sarah, you can do anything,”
experience was exactly what I’d but it doesn’t always need to be
feared, and as hard as I tried, it said. Sometimes the right help
reinforced my self-doubt and and just another chance are all a
Adaptive skiers on o one ever told me I could- shrank my world. person needs.
slopes in Durango
n’t ski, but it was an The experience left me flip- —Sarah Kesty
unspoken understanding, a pant and resistant, so when I heard
composite of other phrases about the adaptive ski program at THE RIGHT HELP
Nthat limited my concept of Adaptive Sports Association (ASA)
my body’s abilities. My doctor Durango, at first I didn’t want to n March 2019, the Adaptive
said, “Just limit all of your activi- risk a rerun. I was worried I would Sports Association-Durango and
ties if you don’t want pain.” be talked down to as the recipient II welcomed Sarah Kesty and Jen-
Teachers counted me out of games of help through an adaptive pro- nifer Rushall to Durango for three
without even asking if I felt up for gram. I usually position myself on days of learning to ski-bike and
playing. Even friends’ well- the helping end of things, and I testing in our gait lab at Fort
intended accommodations dreaded being on the receiving end Lewis College.
supported my boxed-in view of of a clinical or demeaning tone. The snow conditions were
myself—being invited to go on a My worries were unfounded. ideal, and allowed the students to
ski trip and be the “stuff watcher” ASA’s approach supported my learn grace and ease on their ski
because skiing, like lots of other physical and emotional needs with bikes, overcoming their fears and
activities, seemed to be out of the respect and dignity. I tried a ski feeling more confident that winter
question for someone with CMT. bike, which allowed me to sit on a sports CAN be done by people
A few years ago, I tried to bike with very short skis on my with CMT.
challenge my self-concept. I feet. The stopping part that had Sarah and Jennifer also helped
attached long, slippery planks to eluded my first skiing attempts Dr. Missy Thompson and I to add
my feet and stepped out onto was much more accessible on the to our data on gait and pressure
slushy spring snow. It was not a bike: you turn uphill or dig in the changes with CMT. Our hope is
pretty experience. I realized that side of your front ski, and you to create a more uniform and
the trickiest part of skiing for slow down. Having the right objective measurement methodol-
me—besides admitting that I equipment and some amazing ogy for centers worldwide that
needed two different-sized boots instructors was really all I needed. evaluate and treat CMT, allowing
for my different-sized feet, besides The few times I fell, spectacularly, us to truly assess the effectiveness
asking for extra help during the into the snow were the times of various treatments. This could
lesson and besides getting out of when I was inside my own head, also be used in conjunction with
my head to ignore the inner judging and doubting. When I the MRI evaluation of calf mus-
critic—was figuring out how to went with it, when I listened to cles, which is becoming more
stop. I could slide down the small- my body and the movement of common in some Centers of
est of bunny hills, but stopping the mountain, I hit my flow. I’d Excellence.

10 THE CMTA REPORT WINTER 2020