I have always enjoyed outdoor sports: hiking, bicycling, motocycling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. When I became a below the knee amputee last year, I wondered if I would be able t continue all my sports activities. Now, 16 months after amputation, I can do everything as well as I did before the amputation. The most important thing about a prosthesis is proper fit. Kamil takes the time to observe carefully, and listen to me, and keep at it until it is right. Being an amputee is considerably easier than I had expected.
The only thing I could not do with a prosthesis was to drive my manual-transmission car. It was pretty hard to push the clutch all the way down with my big foot, and even harder with a prosthesis. Kamil made me a special driving foot. Now it is easier to drive the car than it was before.
Two years ago I started teaching cross-country skiing. I saw that most instructors have a competitive background, and their techniques are intimidating to many beginners. I have always been interested in sports for fun, not for competition. The people I taught appreciated my ability to tailor the lessons to their level.
Last winter I continued teaching skiing, both privately and with the Nordic Ski Club. Doing it on a prosthesis didn’t make it any harder. Some people might think ‘If he can do it on one leg I could probably learn to do it’.
Cross-country skiing is a very accessible sport. I enjoy the quiet and the closeness to natural beauty. It can be done at any level from easy to very strenuous. Casper has a truly excellent cross-country ski center. If you would like to try cross-country skiing, or if you are concerned that it might be hard to do with a prosthesis or orthosis, please call me at 307-251-3741.