Bill Brouse

"I believe in living the life that I desire. No matter what your disability, the only limitations you have are the ones you set yourself."

Bill Brouse - Mono Racer

Bill participates as a Mono-skier in the Canadian National Disabled Alpine Ski Racing Championships, Eastern (Quebec) and Ontario Championships plus in the inaugural Ontario Winter Paralympics collecting Medals and Trophies. The Canadian championships have international participants. "I am a proud member of the Ontario Disabled Alpine Racing Team that trains at most of Ontario Ski Resorts for Downhill, Super G, Slalom and Giant Slalom skiing. The knowledge I gain at these events is priceless rubbing shoulders with the best Mono-skiers, able and disable skiers, coaches and guides in the business."

Having been involved in wheelchair sports for over 37 years collecting many Medals, Trophy's and Awards Provincially, Nationally, and International; Competing all over the United States, Canada and Mexico in Wheelchair racing, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball, on our Canadian and Ontario teams and was a member of the Kitchener Twin City Spinners and Sled Hockey with the K.W. Sidewinders. Bill also has a 24 speed Hand cycle and participats in many other aerobic exercises to ensure a quality lifestyle he desires. Bill says "there is nothing that compares to the freedom and independence that Mono-skiing provides when surging down a Mountain or ski hill". Sit skiing provides the participant the perspective of "no limitations or barriers" an important part of a disabled persons life or mental freedom. Water sit-skiing is a close second.

None of these activities could have taken place if it were not for his Dad having an open mind to train him to find ways around obstacles that were presented to him when he was just 17 years old after a car accident. His Dad taught him that chairs could be made faster by modifying what was then a very crude wheelchair some 37 years ago. "He and my family were my inspiration. My friends past and present have also lent a hand in allowing me to focus on what I can do and not what I can't or it's the ability not the disability".

Bill has skied a state of the art Praschberger Mono-ski from Austria for the last 5 years with a stress free loading system for easy access to chair lifts. "I have made a few modifications to it; by raising the seating position by 4 inches now being able to control more of the ski mainly from the tip of the ski to the back and have replaced the shock with an Elka shock that has a longer travel with 50 compression 35 rebound high speed and 20 low speed settings on the shock compared to 7 compression and 11 rebound settings on the original monoski shock. This is my second Mono-ski my first Mono-ski only had a shock with compression settings on it and there was no rebound so sometimes you may have been launched down the hill!".

Bill's Mono-ski allows him to transfer the movement of his upper body directly through the shock to the shaped Ski below. Bill's teammate and close friend Jeff Penner, a Level 3 sit ski instructor, taught him to mono-ski over 8 years ago at his local ski hill Chicopee Ski Club in Kitchener. Wanting to give back to society Bill holds a Track 3 Level II Ski instructor, and teaches sit skiing to kids up to 16 years old. Bill is also a CADS (Canadian Association for Disable Skiing) member and volunteer.

"I would like to thank my family and friends who have made me who I am. I also would encourage everyone to be active and support disabled sports as the devices necessary are extremely expensive and many potential participants are on fixed budgets. Our Head-Coach David Hackett of ODART Ontario Disable Alpine Racing Team and former member of the Canadian National Disable Alpine Racing Ski Team for many years"