Four Activities Wheelchair Users Can Look Forward To In The Winter

Are you excited for the arrival of wintertime? I know I am. Winter may be a chilly time of year, but it’s also a very exciting one. We get the best holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas), the best sport (football) and tons of delicious food. And since we’re all wearing jackets and sweaters, we won’t notice the accompanying weight gain until the spring! Hooray for loose-fitting fleece!

For wheelchair users, there are also some interesting, fun activities you can enjoy. Here are four activities to look forward to this winter:

Sit-skiing

Let’s be honest: skiing is kind of like “falling with style,” as Buzz Lightyear might do. You’re being propelled by gravity down a slope, and you’re using sticks to keep yourself sturdy and navigate. What part of that description sounds like it requires the use of your legs? None of it, because you don’t need them. Sit-skiing is a perfectly suitable substitute for wheelchair users, and if you question the excitement, I invite you to take a look at this POV video and reconsider.

Sledge (or Sled) hockey

Let me clear this up first: a hockey sledge is the device used by disabled players in the sport of sledge hockey, and it resembles a sled – which is why we call this sport sled hockey in the United States.

As for the sport itself, it’s very similar to standard ice hockey: players wear pads and play in full contact matches. A specialized shorter hockey stick is also used for better control and maneuverability.

Off-roading

Wheelchairs need to travel on rough terrain at times, which is why 4×4 wheelchair tires exist. However, there’s no reason you can’t use these all-terrain tires for some recreational activity. You can use special snow tires to take off-road hikes with friends or travel along a nature trail.

Wheelchair snow plowing

Maybe this doesn’t seem like fun to you – and that makes sense, since this is technically a chore – but just look at this wheelchair plow. That doesn’t seem entertaining? Listen, if you have to plow the driveway anyway, might as well have some fun with it, right? It’s the most useful activity on the list, that’s for sure.