POSITIVE ACTION

Everybody knows someone with a Disability of one sort or another be it physical or mental and in many cases admire their pluck in trying to get on with their lives in the same way as you or I, and rarely will they let us offer assistance if they know they can deal with it themselves. Many are the occasions that someone will have to point out the matter before you or I are aware


Over the years at Cycle Tour Events I have come across “Hand Bike Users” and other types of Disabled Cyclists, occasionally I will spot them or others have pointed me out and then they have come to me to talk of their cycling ambitions. Whenever the Tour de France or Giro d’Italia comes up it is always with a sense of longing because they always express the ambition and desire but point out the lack of support in the way of assistance and facilities.

When preparing for the first Tour de France that I rode I met a Cycle Paralympian who wanted to travel with me. Regrettably he had no supporters to travel with him and he later travelled to Paris where he remarked to his companions that he knew me as I rode through the “Caravan” on the Champs Elysee near the Arc de Triomphe on the final Sunday carrying the Aussie and French Flags. Since then I have been unable to get a repeat invitation as on that occasion I was also uninvited but the story got worldwide publicity since I had done some stories during that Tour of 1998 with French TV3 channel amongst others.

March 12 the Paralympic Winter Games start in Vancouver and NOW is the time to check your TV guides to see what they are offering to assist you to get the latest news of your countries efforts. It is amazing to hear that the BBC is NOT showing live events. Apparently some weeks ago there was a report that they will do some summaries and a roundup before the closing Ceremony. USA TV channels have for many years chosen to not broadcast live. Paralympic TV will broadcast on the internet and the best way to see what is available is to go to your National Paralympic Committee Site. Whilst there look at which athletes and what sports your country is going to compete with at the Games. Looking at the Athlete Profiles you may even find a neighbour or resident from your area who is competing.

Internet access has changed the way people think and like others I sent messages via Twitter to Competitors using that resource. My request to them was that they help Publicise the Paralympic Games since they would be interacting with the Media who are always looking for stories aside from the competition. You too could select some Para Athletes to interact with and send them good wishes of support. They will enjoy knowing their years of sacrifice are being recognised and it could be that you help inspire them to find the extra effort to bring home a medal. Nobody that I know would ignore the opportunity to claim recognition for setting an athlete on a course which results in their reaching the podium in an international venue so in contacting the “NPC” look at what options there are there to help in your own way to set an athlete on course to the London 2012 Paralympics.


At Solden Opening World Cup Ski weekend one year I came across Darren Rahlves who had failed to qualify for the second run in the Reisen Slalom, he was heading down the hill to the hotel. Earlier I had been talking to the Japanese Para Ski Team and mentioned this , he asked where they were and I took him over expecting him to stay a few moments. When I left ½ hr later he was still settled in talking to them. Many athletes behave in this way , I know that Lindsey Vonn passed an amount of money to a Paralympian that she received as part of an Award in 2008. There are countless Cycle Racers that pass on their equipment to help, so much of this goes on unremarked as they do not wish to grandstand, but I take the view they are setting an example that others should follow!



Last week I sent an email to Auspara.com offering a “Cycle Cap” that I had got autographed at Bormio World Cup Ski Finals in 2008. There were 37 autographs on it, including Janice Kostelic, Bodie Miller, Lindsey Vonn, Alberto Tomba , Anja Paerson, etc. Could it be that there is no need to raise funds with an item such as this or a misread of the email. Michael Milton won 4 Gold Medals at Salt Lake Paralympics and leads a life full of adventure but those starting out struggle to raise funds and I believe even this offering has the possibility to raise considerable funds. The cap was amongst 3 that I took around with me whilst working there as a Slipper on the race courses. As the Ladies autographed the caps I got a kiss for luck from all but Julia Mancuso, not sure who the luck was for as later in the first run she skied out of the course. Curiously enough whilst looking for Marlie Schilds to gather her autograph i came across a group of the Austrian Ladies racing there, i did not add them but Liz Goergl & Andrea Fischbacker are now National Heroines for their exploits in Vancouver.



Looking at the list of Autographs on the cap I see ten autographs from racers who won medals this time around, and the bulk of the rest of the autographs are Gold Medal winners in previous Winter Olympic Games. Question is if this cap does not go to the Aussies at this time whilst the Olympics are current how much will it raise when the Hoopla dies down and the Media are no longer competing for stories. Any with suggestions to resolve this matter please post a comment or email direct.




The sun is shining and the roads are clear of snow so I am closing to go cycling, a couple of hours of fresh air will help me decide which photos to post and perhaps there will be some comments by the time I return! Funny to be in Austria and see that the people who visit here generally have left home with snow on their roads to drive around here where it has all but disappeared.

Just come in to add extra layers after an hour in the windy weather which whilst sunny is brutally cold, yes a bit of a whimp at this time ! Kudos are due as whilst on a clear stretch of road i was passed by a combi van which was still signalling after it had passed me, www.ascherauhof.com is a local hotel who rely on visitors and obviously good behaviour on the roads deserves recognition.


Earlier posts contain reference to www.fatcyclist.com whose fundraiser closes monday evening and the reason for the early closure is now apparent as he announced the imminent marriage to the "Runner(Lisa) next week. Congrats to both and i hope their family enjoy more good fortune in the coming years.

www.wheelchairpride.com deserves a visit as it provides details of the Paralympic events and links for the TV coverage, they also offer an interesting insight into that way of living. Visit and enjoy the information that is offered.

WINTER PARALYMPICS

This coming week we will see the Opening Ceremony of the 21st Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver which as far as I am concerned is a dress rehearsal for the more important event which is the Paralympic Games that are scheduled to start on 12th March and run until 21st March 2010 . Each of these events require dedication from the participants as some are new to their event but the majority have competed in previous events with or without medal success.

For all the athletes participating at each of the separate events
“It is not whether you win or lose, it is about how you play the game”!

Generally speaking all the athletes attending these events have been preparing all their lives in the most part for the events in which they are competing ! Some exceptional athletes started out training for the Olympic discipline but find themselves through accident or illness competing in the Paralympic Event of the same discipline! This is why I feel like others, that these athletes deserve more recognition for their efforts, they have overcome the adversities that life has imposed on them and still triumphed!





In the Zillertal , Austria near where I live there is a Wheelchair user, a very quiet friendly person who grew up and won many ski championships in the Tyrol. In 1993 a fall from a chair lift tower changed his life choices and also his marital situation as at first the new life style was not to his liking and had an influence on his home life and those around him. After a period of adjustment he was in the Austrian Paralympic Ski Team at Nagano Winter Paralympics 1998 where he won recognition and a Silver Medal for his country. World Championships followed as did the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Paralympics and even more medals and recognition. He is now married once again to a fellow “Wheelie” and although retired from competition continues in Ski Sport training other “Wheelies” investing his efforts in the future Paralympics athletes . My belief is that his life is richer than most of ours even though we have full use of our faculties.

At Torino 2006 Winter Olympics as a Volunteer I had access to a variety of venues and one afternoon I went to the “Long Skate venue” and saw the Dutch win a medal. On the way in I helped a couple of people including two ladies from the USA one of whom was in a wheelchair. This took me into a reserved area that was set aside for “Wheelchair Access”. Through the afternoon I learned that Loren was new to skiing and was a first time competitor at the Paralympics. She was a quiet shy young lady and her companion from the USA committee did most of the talking. Weeks later I would see Loren at Sestriere both before and after she won several Gold Paralympic Medals, even with all the publicity and success she remained just as unremarkable.





In 1998 I was at Solden for the World Cup Ski Season Opening and as I had the time and contact arranged to set up the bike in the foyer of the Tourism Office and do a “24hr Rollathon” to raise money for the “Behinderten(disabled ) Ski Teams” this was when I first met Andy of the Zillertal and Michael and Gerd from the Deutschland Paralympic Team. We set up 3 Tacx trainers and rolled the wheels and raised a sum of money which went to the Austria Paralympic although there was a prior split arranged.





Both Gerd and Michael rode mountain bikes so they had them available to join with me in this event but Andy a user of the Handbike was not able to join in although he was well known to many of those passing through the foyer. After several hours I was left to entertain the passing parade and continued through the night. The next morning we moved up the mountain to the VIP tent entrance where the fund raising effort continued. I had done something like this at the World Road Races at Valkenberg the previous month but this was a lot more successful result. Many times since I have had the opportunity to meet up with these remarkable individuals who are a credit to their National Teams and will be at Whistler.





Michael Milton the Aussie Paralympic Ski Star from amongst other Winter Paralympic Games has been “World Athlete of the YEAR” is also a Paralympic Cycle Road Racer having competed at Beijing in 2008. My first meeting with him was in Centennial Park at Sydney 2000 where he was a volunteer , since then be has completed many cycle adventures. In Athens at the 2004 Summer Paralympic I briefly met Liz Sauvage with her mother at the stadium, she also did an outstanding job for Australia and was once named the “Australian of the year” in the New Years Honours List.

This character is also a "Hand Biker" whom i met at the 2006 Torino Paralympic Games French Dinner and unexpectedly on the route of the 2008 Tour de France. He was in his Hand bike as the route climbed ove 2700m from France to Cuneo in Italy. i have been a guest in his home in Seez near Bourg St Maurice but was unable to find him in the area last year as i arrived from the Martgny etappe.




This section is about a website which works with "Disability" and highlights some of the experiences that wheelchair users experience on a daily basis www.wheelchairpride.com his is a website I enjoy reading and the blog adds value to my knowledge of life.

One of the recent posts talks of "Tyler Walker" who i may have met briefly with the other USA Paralympians at the Torino 2006 Paralympic Games around the Sestriere Chair lift where i had occasion to greet so many of these successful Athletes.


You can read more about Tyler on his website www.tylerwalker.org
Tyler, if you read this, I wish you the best of luck in the Paralympics 2010.

Since writing this blog i visited Andy Schiestl and showed him Tyler's blog and as he watched the video section he pointed out some of the Paralympian Athletes that he had competed against in his ski race career. Really interesting how life evolves from visiting a Blogsite.

Perhaps you will find the subsequent articles from www.wheelchairpride.com of interest!

MY 2010 PROJECT IS AIMED AT ASSISTING THESE FINE ATHLETES TO ENJOY EVENTS SUCH AS THE “TOUR DE FRANCE” IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE DO !!

THERE IS STILL TIME TO JOIN US BUT TRAINING NEEDS TO START PROMPTLY