The Toronto Ski Hawks

How It Works

Over the years, a unique system of skiing for the visually impaired has been developed by Ron and Barbara Lusher, the founding ski school directors. Skiers can be taught to ski down the most difficult ski slopes safely. A skier’s well trained instructor or guide follows the skier closely, calling out simple directions. Blind and visually impaired skiers always ski one-on-one, one student with one instructor/guide.

The deaf-blind skiers use a controlled electronic buzzer, with one instructor who is the ‘team leader’, skiing behind the student handling the controls and two instructors or guides who are ‘outriders’, skiing beside the student giving him room to maneuver, but close enough to assist if skiing adjustments are needed. The team leader is constantly informing the outriders of where he is directing the student.

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