Val Thorens puts the accent on Handisport

For more than 15 years,

Val Thorens has made numerous efforts to welcome people with reduced mobility.

Pioneer for handicapped sport, handiski is the "get away" sport par excellence. It allows handicapped people to take part in a physical activity while at the same time having fun. In Val Thorens participating in snow sports gives a huge sensation of liberty at the top of the 3 Vallées. Handiski adapts to all types of handicap. It can be done standing up, sitting down or accompanied by a guide, while at the same time having the joy of participating in a ‘valid person's sport'. It is a discipline which is also a leisure activity, because it lets one get away from every day life and have fun.

The equipment depends on the type of handicap. For upright skiing, the equipment is the same as for valid skiers. For seated skiers there are various types of equipment which can be used in Val Thorens : The Uni Ski or the Dual Ski (a shell on a chassis, fixed to one or two skis), Bi ski (similar to a toboggan) and the armchair ski (seat on a chassis, fixed to two skis and directed by a guide.) For upright or seated skiing, the Stabilo (ski sticks fixed to small skis) is all the rage for balance and to help turn.

To help everyone benefit from these unforgettable snow sport sensations in the highest resort in Europe, Val Thorens has special preferential tariffs with up to 50% discount for handicapped skiers and their helpers so that they can fully enjoy the joys of winter sports.

The ski lift company has also undertaken certain measures to facilitate access of handicapped skiers to the ski lifts, by totally redesigning the cable cars, chair lifts and Funitels in the ski area. (Example : slopes instead of steps).

Lastly, the ski schools, Ecole du Ski Français and Prosneige, contribute to the resort's efforts by offering ski lessons to the physically, visually or aurally handicapped thanks to specialised qualified instructors.
In effect, whatever your handicap (tetraplegic, paraplegic, visual or aural deficiency, autistic, trisomic ...) Val Thorens and its ski schools can take you to the top of the mountain with the specially qualified intructors (dualski, uniski, FSA, long Stabilo...)

Val Thorens has found solutions adapted for the handicapped so that everyone can enjoy snow sports at the top of Europe (adapted accommodation, restaurants, toilets accessible to handicapped ...).