Sportsman prepares ground for business

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 286, 16 May 1989, Page 7

Sportsman prepares ground for business

Part-time Ohakune-based disabled ski instructor Paul Speight is doing what he can to help disabled people overcome their physical limitations.

The former New Zealand disabled ski team manager recently purchased a Denver, Colorado-based business, Para Leisure and Equipment Industries, with the objective of installing a similar business in Ohakune. The company specialises in designing custom-made sports equipment for the disabled, as well as saies and distribution of goods from other companies. Ironically, it costs less to design and build the specialised sports gear overseas and import it to New Zealand, than it does to make it here. Mr Speight said he was forced to look overseas because there was nothing in New Zealand to develop. His firm of business consultants and experts custom-design gear to suit individual needs. "The list of disabilities is growing," said Paul, "and the needs of disabled people must be catered for." His company sells a comprehensive range of winter equipment, including mono-skis, outriggers and sleds. The range of summer gear is equally impressive, boasting windsurfers, surf boards, yachts, water skiis - the list goes on and on. Company experts also

adapt regular equipment to meet special needs, specialising in adapting motor bikes. Promotion Mr Speight is running a promotional campaign detailing new market products in an effort to build up his overseas business before opening his New Zealand outlet. He envisages the business won't be up and running until summer 1990, as he will be occupied

with a full programme of instruction and training for next year's disabled skiing World Championships He is also working on plans to establish a travel programme tailor-made specifically for disabled people, travelling within New Zealand and overseas. Travelling a great deal in the past three years, Mr Speight has built up a rapport with airlines and other s in the travel industry. He has also compiled a list of companies that just don't measure up when it comes to meeting the

needs of disabled travellers. From his experience, New Zealand has an airline that is helpful and sympathetic to the needs of disabled people. His aim is to produce a monthly combined travel and sports magazine, offering travel tips and volumes on specialised sports to disabled sportsmen and women. Preparing for World Champs Another of his goals is to compete in next year's Disabled World Championships at

Winter Park in Colorado, and possibly the Disabled Olympics in 1992. Mr Speight took up competition skiing two and a half years ago. Before that he was managing the New Zealand Disabled Ski Team, who competed in the Disabled Olympics in Austria with considerable success two years ago. Mr Speight recently competed in the Canadian and US National Championships and emerged with bronze medals in the slalom and giant slalom for the mono-ski. He manages to keep in training thiough instructing and coaching disabled skiers in basic skiing skills at Winter Park ski area that

boasts the largest handicap programme in the world. He was one of 21 fulltime staffers and almost 1,000 trained volunteers at Winter Park,

offering one-on-one lessons to around 2,500 disabled individuals with disabilities ranging from quadriplegia to cerebral palsy.