This was their first descent down the Valley Blanches. Thanks to the ADEPA (l'Association de défense et d'étude des personnes amputees) these athletes could achieve this dream and ski the Valley Blanches, one of the most beautiful descents in the Alps, this Tuesday.
Most of the skiers are from the Rhone-Alps area but they come from all over France. Patrice, from Nice, has a femoral amputation and he is a snowboarder. For seven years now, he has been a pioneer in the world of amputees and stretching the limits often imposed upon the handicap. He now wears a prosthesis with a shock absorber allowing him to board like anyone else on the mountain.
After the vertigo-inducing ridge of the Aiguille du Midi where the guides, Guy Pellerin and Dominique Debesnoit, alias Doumé, specialist in guiding handicapped persons, lead them closer to the beautiful panoramas.
Philippe Louzeau, who organized this whole day, did the Valley Blanche once, 30 yrs ago. After a motorcycle accident which took his leg, he dreamed of returning to ski the “VB.”
An old school companion, Guy, happened to be one of the four guides with them that day. It wasn’t the easiest descent for Philippe and he even broke his prosthesis at the foot of the Aiguille but it was an amazing day. The expedition made the second to last train down from the Montenvers.
More comfortable and graceful than the others was Lydie Tournier. She was a competition level athlete before her cancer. She was and still is and amazing athlete. Always leading the pack Tuesday.
Christophe Odoit, was amputated from his tibia. Originally from Chevrière, was the second boarder in the group. “I was an athlete before. I was into motorcycles, auto rallies, I biked and now I snowboard.” The Valley Blanche? “The large traverses were the most tiring but as a whole it was not terribly difficult. More dangerous than anything! Luckily, the guides were there with us. ”
Like his friends, he just wants to show others that, even with only one leg, he can “do anything!” And life continues…
