By Amanda Estes

Staff Writer    

As Russ Connors talks about skiing, he twists his upper body back and
forth in his chair, mimicking a skier’s movements on the slope. Leaning
forward with enthusiasm, it’s as if he wishes the afternoon’s steady
rain would suddenly give way to fluffy snowflakes.

Connors, 75, shares his excitement for the sport with others by
volunteering with the Maine Handicapped Skiing Program (MHS). As a
skiing advisor, he instructs people of all ages and abilities in alpine
or downhill skiing, opening the door for them to become independent
skiers. MHS is celebrating 25 years of providing opportunities for
people to learn how to ski and snowboard and with 15 seasons of
volunteering under his belt, Connors is one of the veteran advisors who
help the program thrive.

 “Being a coach or teaching was not part of my resume,” the Cape
Elizabeth resident says. “I just fell into it. I wanted to be involved
in skiing, to assist in any way and to learn how to ski better too.”

Connors jokes he has become a better skier through osmosis and just
being near other seasoned instructors. As a Professional Ski
Instructors of America (PSIA) certified level II instructor, however,
Connors has proven his own skills on skis as well as his knowledge of
medical and equipment issues related to skiers with disabilities.

Despite the organization’s name, MHS is not all about skiing. Programs
run year-round, offering people age 6 and older a chance to try
golfing, cycling and paddling in addition to alpine skiing,
snowboarding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

MHS also offers multi-day winter and summer programs to disabled
veterans and active duty personnel through its Veterans No Boundaries
program. MHS provides lessons, equipment, meals, entertainment and
summer lodging free of charge.  

Leslie Otten, founder of the American Skiing Company and Dr. Omar
(Chip) Crothers, a Portland-based orthopedic surgeon, founded MHS in
1982. The program started out at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry with
a part-time staff member and eight participants. Today, the program has
its own slope-side building at the resort and operates additional
winter programs at Sugarloaf/ USA in Carrabassett Valley, Sunday River
Inn and Cross Country Ski Center and Pineland Farms in New Gloucester.
From early January to March, the program’s 350 volunteers help provide
more than 1,200 winter lessons each year.   

“For any person with a disability, if they’re confined to their living
room or school routine – you get them out on the slopes for the day and
it’s as good as any medication you can get,” Connors says.  

Adaptive skiing equipment has come a long way since its origins
following World War II to allow injured veterans to participate in the
activities they enjoyed before the war, according to the MHS Web site.
Today it is possible for nearly everyone to enjoy downhill and cross
country skiing and snowboarding.

Through MHS, alpine skiers have access to four-track, three-track,
two-track, mono-ski, bi-ski or snow slider equipment. Four-track and
three-track skiers use outriggers, or forearm crutches with ski tips,
to help improve their balance. People with cerebral palsy, spinal cord
injuries and multiple sclerosis may benefit from four-track equipment
while three-track skiing can be helpful for people who have had
amputations or have a developmental or muscular disease that affects
one leg.

People, who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hearing impaired may
be outfitted with two-track equipment, in which they use two skis, two
boots and may also use a ski bra attached to the ski tips. Mono-skiers,
often people with disabilities affecting their lower extremities, use a
piece of sit-down equipment with one ski on the bottom. A bi-ski is
similar to a mono-ski, but has two short and wide skis attached to the
bucket seat. Snow slider equipment can be tethered to another skier to
allow people to get the feel of skiing before going down the slopes on
their own.

For any new skier, Connors says the most important thing is to master balance.

“It’s like operating a canoe or a kayak, you want to stay on top of the water,” he says.

In order to personalize lessons to each person’s abilities, Connors
says he likes to spend part of the first day becoming acquainted with
his new student. Whether he is working with a young student with a
neurological disability or someone closer to his own age, who has
suffered a stroke, Connors makes a point to find out about their
interests and their reasons for coming to the program. Not only is it a
chance to bond, but it also gives him an idea of the skill sets they
may have and how they will come in to play in their skiing.

“You notice things about the person,” he says. “Where do they sort of
compensate for their hand in one way or another?” he offers as an
example.

While all advisors receive training and are provided physicians’
reports, outlining information about past operations and current
medications, Connors says he learns more with each lesson.

“It all happens in here,” he says, pointing to his chest. “You just
want to do it and with the will to want to do things, you accumulate
knowledge.”

Connors taught himself how to ski, but doesn’t recommend that route to
prospective skiers, as it will likely result in frustration.

Following a stint in the Korean War, the U.S. Air Force veteran and New
York City native, asked to be stationed at the former Loring Air Force
Base in Limestone.

“I purchased my first pair of skis in Aroostook County, the winter of 1953, at Limestone Air Force Base for $15,” he says.

In his mid-20s, Connors promised himself, “If I ever get married, I’m coming back to Maine.”

More than a decade later, Connors quit his job as a lineman with
AT&T and, with his wife pledging to follow him anywhere, moved out
of the city. He moved back to Maine during the spring of 1967 and has
been here ever since.

“I always loved athletics and the outdoors,” he says. “It was always part of my wildness.”

A former competitive runner, who competed in the Boston Marathon – “it
might have been 12 or 13 times” – Connors serves as a coordinator of
the wheelchair division of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K.

Connors’ four children have inherited his athleticism and all ski very well, he says.  

Skiing is one of the best things a family can do together, Connors
says. As an advisor with MHS, he is proud to help individuals develop
the skills and confidence to join their family and friends for a day on
the slopes.

For more information about volunteering or participation in the Maine
Handicapped Skiing program, visit www.skimhs.org, email
info@skimhs.org, or call 800-639-7770. Participation in MHS programs is
subject to review and evaluation by the MHS staff.