Skip to main content

Riding on Insulin & Connected in Motion

Blog by: Chloe Steepe.

As an adult living with Type 1 diabetes, hanging out with kids with D is a really cool experience. Kids with diabetes are awesome. Super cool. Not that kids without diabetes aren’t (I’ve met lots of those too). But kids with D just seem to have a certain element of radness to them.

They are tough, outgoing and mature – most seem to have higher processing skills than many university students I know. They impress you by rhyming off carb counts, basal adjustments, bg ranges and correction factors just as well as we, the adults, can. They seem to have a different perspective on life. Maybe I am hyper sensitive and super impressed by this as I was never a kid with D myself.  Regardless, there is something extremely humbling about watching a miniature version of yourself take on a grown up sized challenge. And kick butt with it! (Kudos of course to the fabulous, wonderful and fantastic parents that support said wee ones)

Normally, Connected in Motion programs are for young adults and adults with D. However in March, CIM came together in partnership with a fabulous organization from the US, Riding on Insulin (ROI), to present one of Sean Busby’s Ski and Snowboard Camps for Kids and Teens with Diabetes. Connected in Motion leaders had the opportunity to be inspired by kids with D on the slopes of Nakiska Mountain Resort in Kananaskis, AB.

Over 30 families from Southern Alberta (as well as BC and even Australia!) came together at the Delta Kananaskis Resort for a weekend of skiing, snowboarding and connecting with other Type 1 families.

On Friday night, as a few inches of fresh snow accumulated outside, the weekend kicked off with an orientation led by the energetic Executive Director of Riding on Insulin, Mollie Busby. Families had a chance to mix, mingle and get prepped for Saturday’s activities. Bright and early on Saturday morning families headed to the hill to get geared up and to meet Sean Busby, founder of ROI, pro-snowboarder and Type 1. Divided into groups by skill level, and accompanied by a CIM leader, the kids hit the slopes to shred. The morning was a blur of magic carpet rides, linking turns, blood sugar checks and high fives. Were we impressed! From the bunny hill to the black diamonds, these kids could rip!

 

While the kids skied and boarded, parents heard from representatives from both the JDRF and the CDA, getting caught up on the latest from both organizations. After a quick lunch, the crew was back out on the hill. Each group had the chance to do a few runs with Sean and get a few tips from the pro.

The day whipped by and before we knew it we were back at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge checking out the latest and greatest from our sponsor companies Medtronic of CanadaAnimas CanadaSOLE Custom Footbeds and sitting down to an incredible buffet dinner.

With full tummies, we turned our attention to the slide projector. Sean Busby took us on an incredible adventure with his photos and stories of international snowboarding expeditions to wild and wonderful places such as Iceland, Bulgaria, New Zealand and Antarctica. He told us of his misdiagnosis as a Type 2 diabetic, his transition from sport to expedition based snowboarding and spoke candidly about his challenges and successes managing diabetes while adventuring.

Sean shared his outlook on diabetes. “Diabetes is my best friend” he said to a crowd full of inquisitive faces.  Best friends are together all the time, heading off on all kinds of adventures by working together. They fight, get frustrated, but they always make up.

With muscles exhausted by a day on the slopes and minds inspired by new experiences and new friends (diabetes included) we said goodnight.

Many thanks go out to:
The Riding on Insulin Crew – Mollie, Sean and Alex.
Our incredible volunteer mentors: Sarah, Larry, Hank, Julie, Reid, Brett, Sandra, Karen, Ward, Meg, Allison, Claire, Geoff.
And of course our sponsors:

Medtronic of Canada, Animas Canada, SOLE Custom Footbeds

Note: Due to Spring spring-ing early in Ontario this year, we were forced to postpone our ONTARIO Riding on Insulin Camp until next year. Please stay tuned for 2013 dates! Here at CIM, we have already started the countdown till next year!