In the UK, where snow is scarce, mountain trails are rugged, and many beaches remain largely inaccessible, Para Nordic skier Scott Meenagh and adaptive surfer Zoe Smith tell Kate Stevenson how they’re proving that extreme sports are for everyone
Most extreme sports take place outdoors because they involve natural elements that add unpredictability and challenge. These elements, like wind or snow, add thrill to the competition, but make outdoor based sports harder for disabled people to participate in, especially compared to indoor sports which take place in spaces designed for accessibility. “It’s much more difficult to change natural terrain – like a mountain for an adaptive biking athlete,” explains Zoe, who is a below-knee amputee.
PERSONAL CHALLENGES
As an adaptive surfer, she faces her own set of challenges when it comes to training and competing. The biggest? Accessing the beach: “90% of our beaches are inaccessible,” clarifies Zoe. “The humiliation that comes with crawling along the beach is something society needs to address. People don’t understand that simply just getting to the water is a huge battle.”
Scott, who lost both his legs to an IED blast in Afghanistan, gets equally frustrated with his own sport at times. He loves Para Nordic skiing, but most trails aren’t fit for sit-skis, and moving around the mountains can be difficult.
He struggles with the cold at times, and says: “Keeping my stumps warm is a huge challenge. I’ve had to design a custom sit-ski with a cockpit to protect against windburn at high speeds.”
Scott’s main problem is the lack of accessibility to winter sports infrastructure. “The UK doesn’t have reliable winter conditions, so I have to travel to train, and it’s incredibly expensive,” he adds. “I’ve turned to roller skiing to train. You don’t need snow, just a path, a trail or a road.”
ADAPTING TO THE ELEMENTS
These alternatives aren’t perfect, but Scott and Zoe are making them work by becoming inventive – a skill many Enable readers will be familiar with. Of course, innovation can change everything.
Zoe is still looking for the perfect prosthetic for surfing – preferably one that doesn’t rust or erode over time. “The prosthetic industry doesn’t recognise the need for people with limb loss to access water spaces,” she explains, “even though we know how crucial ‘blue health’ [the psychological benefits of being in water] is.”
To get a functional surfing prosthetic, Zoe’s had to seek private funding. “The cost of a water leg is about £11,000,” she says, shaking her head. Even with modifications, the equipment isn’t perfect: “I’ve had to drill holes in the foot shell to let water drain out, and duct tape my wetsuit to my leg to stop water flushing through. Everything is a workaround.”
Scott’s sport is no different – sit skis are expensive, and the custom designed smart clothing that keeps him warm isn’t cheap either.
FUNDING, FACILITIES AND FAIRNESS
Even with these obstacles, both athletes are fiercely committed to their sports. But they note that, while their governing sports bodies – GB Snowsport (gbsnowsport.com) and Surfing England (surfingengland. org) – are making strides to level the playing field, more needs to be done at a systemic level.
Scott is unhappy with the lack of grassroots investment. “The funding we get is based on our potential to win medals at the Paralympic Games,” he tells me. “But we can’t win medals at the highest level if we don’t grow the sport at the lowest level too.”
Zoe is passionate about making Britain’s shores more accessible in general: “We need tracks on beaches, beach wheelchairs, and changing facilities for disabled people,” she stresses. “Even where there are tracks, they don’t reach the water. We’re expected to be carried or crawl.”
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Both athletes believe that visibility could be key to making more of our outdoor spaces accessible. “People don’t expect to see a disabled person shredding waves, so they stop and stare. They don’t think disabled people do stuff like this,” shrugs Zoe. “That’s the problem: we’re not seen. And if you’re not seen, people assume you don’t exist.”
Scott echoes this sentiment and hopes more disabled people can experience the liberty he feels on the slopes. “Nordic skiing has taken me to places I never thought I’d reach. As a double amputee, I can explore landscapes on skis that I could never dream of accessing on prosthetics. That’s the magic of adaptive sports.”
FROM THE SLOPES TO THE WAVES
Ultimately, their mission is about more than sport. It’s about proving that the outdoors, and adventure, belong to everyone.
“For me,” Scott admits, “this sport isn’t just about competition – it’s about freedom. And everyone deserves that.”
Zoe agrees: “The sea belongs to all of us. It’s time we made sure everyone can reach it.”