From First Turns to the Paralympics
From First Turns to the Paralympics: How Disabled Wintersport Australia Opens the Snow to Everyone
As the world watched some incredible performances at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, and cheered on the amazing Aussie Winter Olympic Team, the countdown is well and truly on for the Winter Paralympic Games which starts on the 6th March 2026.
Across both events, we’re seeing what’s possible on snow: speed, courage, skill and determination at the very highest level of winter sport.
What many people don’t realise is that for a number of Australian Para athletes, their journey didn’t start on an international stage. It started much closer to home, with Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA).
The national gateway to adaptive snow sports
Disabled Wintersport Australia is the national organisation supporting people with disability to access skiing and snowboarding at Australia’s major alpine resorts. We work across Mt Buller, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Perisher and Thredbo, helping people of all abilities experience the freedom, confidence and joy that comes from time on snow.
For some, that journey is about trying skiing or snowboarding for the very first time. For others, it becomes a pathway, one that can lead all the way to elite competition, including the Winter Paralympics.
What adaptive snow sport looks like in Australia
Adaptive snow sport is exactly what it sounds like: skiing and snowboarding made accessible, using specialised equipment, trained guides and supportive programs tailored to individual needs.
Through DWA, members can access:
Adaptive equipment such as sit skis, outriggers and other supports
Trained volunteer adaptive snowsport guides
Access to lift ticket and lesson concessions
Member camps designed to build skills, confidence and independence
Support navigating pathways into competition, where that’s a goal
Whether someone wants to ski once with family, build confidence over a season, or pursue performance pathways, DWA helps remove barriers and create opportunities.
A pathway that grows with you
There’s no single “right” destination in adaptive snow sports and that’s intentional.
Many people first connect with DWA because they want to try skiing or snowboarding in a supportive environment. With access to the right equipment and guides, that first experience often unlocks something bigger: confidence, independence, community, and a sense of belonging on the mountain.
For some members, that journey continues over multiple seasons, progressing skills, joining camps, and exploring competitive pathways. A number of Australia’s Winter Para athletes have had a connection with DWA programs or support at different points along their journey.
In simple terms:
Discover adaptive snow sports → join DWA for support → progress as far as you want to go.
Inspired by the Olympics and Paralympics? Your journey can start here
Watching the Winter Olympics and Paralympics can be inspiring, but it can also leave people wondering “Could I do that?” or “How would I even get started?”
That’s where DWA comes in.
You don’t need prior experience. You don’t need elite ambitions. You just need curiosity and a desire to give it a go. DWA works with individuals, families and carers to help people with disability access the snow in ways that are safe, inclusive and empowering.
The Winter Olympics and Paralympics show what’s possible at the highest level. DWA exists to make the first step possible.
How you can get involved
As interest in adaptive snow sports grows, so does the need for equipment, trained guides and sustainable programs. There are two simple ways you can support this work:
Join DWA
Membership connects you to programs, concessions, equipment access and support at Australian resorts and helps us plan for the 2026 snow season.
Donate to support adaptive snow sports
Donations help fund adaptive equipment, volunteer training and camps, ensuring more people with disability can experience the snow. All donations are tax deductible.
Volunteer as an Adaptive Snowsport Guide
Our programs simply wouldn’t run without our incredible volunteers.
If you’re a confident skier or snowboarder and want to make a meaningful difference, becoming a trained DWA volunteer guide is one of the most rewarding ways to be part of the winter sport community.
Volunteers receive specialised adaptive training and become part of a supportive alpine network across five resorts, helping others experience freedom, confidence and independence on snow.
Opening the snow to more Australians
The Winter Paralympics shine a spotlight on excellence, resilience and possibility. At Disabled Wintersport Australia, we’re focused on what happens next, welcoming more Australians with disability onto the slopes, supporting their journey, and keeping adaptive snow sports accessible for years to come.
Whether your goal is one day on snow or one day on the world stage, DWA is here to help you take that first turn.