For years, skiers with disabilities have been cruising
downhill on adaptive equipment called “sitskis.†Now cross-country skiers can use similar devices on
cross-country ski trails at Duluth’s Hartley Park. Hartley Nature Center will make the new crosscountry sit-skis
available starting this week and will hold an event Saturday to showcase Nordic
sitskiing. Reid Hietala of Cloquet tried one of the new Nordic sit-skis at
Hartley on Thursday, double-poling powerfully down a groomed, level trail.
“It’s a lot of work. Holy cow!†said Hietala, 21. “But trying
it now, it’s a lot of fun. The last time I tried it, I wasn’t much into
cross-country skiing.†Hietala, 21, was born with Spina bifida. He has been
mono-skiing downhill for 17 years and also uses hand cycles, both activities
through Courage Center Duluth.
Making the adaptive ski equipment available at Hartley is a
cooperative project of Courage Center Duluth, Hartley Nature Center, the Duluth
Cross- Country Ski Club and the Central Cross-Country Ski Association in
Hayward.
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