Blog: “I feel free when I’m snowboarding”
Activity Alliance features a blog post every Friday on the experiences of disabled people involved in sport and exercise at all levels, finding out what impact being active has on their lives. Today, snowboarder Mieke Dix tells us how being active has been beneficial in helping her combat depression.
Hey, I’m Mieke, I’m 24 years old and I live in Luton. I’m registered blind and also experience severe depression.
I’m a snowboarder and take regular lessons at Snozone Milton Keynes. I did used to skate at Alexandra Palace in London, although I took a break in May 2017 and have yet to return.
I got involved in snowboarding through British Blind Sport and Visually Impaired Children Taking Action (VICTA) offering a series of visually impaired (VI) taster sessions at the Snozone slopes. I submitted my application of interest and was lucky enough to be offered a place on one of the sessions at Milton Keynes in April 2017. I then started taking regular lessons about a month later, and now I snowboard twice a week; once on Saturdays with my coach in a dedicated adaptive lesson, and then on Tuesdays, where I have a development coaching session.
I have a friend who used to be my training partner on the ice, so when I first started I skated with her a lot. However, in snowboarding I go solo alongside the coach, although sometimes there are other people sharing a development coaching session. There is also a disability snowsports group that meets once a month at the slope, but due to lack of spare time I have only been to this session once so far.
I really enjoy being active. I feel it shakes off any perception that disabled people aren’t capable of being active. This is what I love most about sport, as it gives me the opportunity to challenge beliefs and to prove to others, as well as myself, what I am capable of.
Taking up snowboarding has also enabled me to meet a lot of awesome new people. Everyone is so warm and friendly it’s impossible not to immediately feel welcomed into the community, no matter what your ability.
Being active has and continues to improve my physical health. However, the biggest effect is on my mental health. I’ve struggled with suicidal depression since I was a teenager, and it can be a monumental task to get myself to the slope or rink. However, give me an hour on the slope or a few laps around the rink and this helps me feel better. I definitely feel the more active I am the greater number of days I have where I am able to function, even if I feel very low.
When I do take part in snowboarding or skating I feel free. The coaches never treat me differently to how they would treat an athlete who is sighted. So within those few hours I don’t feel disabled but feel like I’m the coolest snowboarder ever.
I have a few events lined up over the coming year. I have entered the English Ski and Snowboard Cross Championships, taking place in Castleford on 23rd June 2018, so my training is mostly focussed on this right now. I've also been selected for phase one of the Discover Your Gold Paralympic Talent ID Scheme, which takes place the following week.
My coach and I have been given the wonderful opportunity to join Si Nicholson, the head coach of the Para-Snowboard squads and the Paralympic team, during summer training. I would also like to get back on the ice too - my snowboard coach says that maybe we should swap roles and I should give him a skating lesson!
My advice to other disabled people thinking about being more active or wanting to take up a form of exercise or sport is - go for it! There are so many benefits to being active, especially the opportunity to challenge yourself and push yourself beyond your limits and achieve what you’d never believe possible. There’s also the chance to socialise and make a number of new friends.
There are a great deal of opportunities to have a go at sports, such as taster days like the one that brought me into snowboarding. There are lots of incredibly dedicated individuals, which help work to help make sport accessible to all. There’s really no better time to start.
Interested in trying out snowsports? Visit Disability Snow Sport UK website for more information or email admin@disabilitysnowsport.org.uk for support to find a place near you to join in.
If you want to be more active but aren't sure how to start, visit our dedicated webpages for advice.
