Description
From the Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports website:
Ski and board all year ’round, have fun, keep fit and experience your own little piece of alpine life right here in Canberra. We offer a unique bridge between the indoor and outdoor experience where individuals can continue to develop and build upon their skills. Our team of certified ski and snowboard instructors and coaches assists leisure and serious snow sports competitors alike to help maintain muscle memory, and reach their goals without the disruption imposed by seasons.
The slope itself is a giant “mat” made of soft white nylon fibre that sits on a tilted and moving platform. It can be adjusted in height, and is operated on an electric and hydraulic mechanism. The instructor operates the simulator via a hand-held remote and can stop the slope at any time. Safety rails surround the slope with a handrail at the front for added safety. A mirrored front wall provides immediate feedback for the participant to adjust and modify technique as they train.
Vertikal has a ski lodge vibe with a bar, pizza oven, fireplaces, tables and plenty of comfortable seating.
Some images for this listings were created with financial support from the ACT Government through the “Canberra: more than Inclusive, more than accessible” campaign.
Credits: Mode Imagery.
Accessibility Information
Vertikal is committed to making the snow sports experience available to all comers, including people with a disability. The Vertikal team have worked with skiers with mobility challenges, vision-impairment, hearing-impairment and autism. Where there is a will to ski, they will try to find a way to make it happen.
To make sure time on the slopes is positive and pitched at the right level, Vertikal staff talk with all first-time visitors to find out a little bit more about them, including whether they have any previous skiing experience and any accessibility needs. Staff have been trained to be aware of additional needs and how they may be addressed.
There are two disabled parking spaces in the large carpark at the rear of Vertikal and easy access from that carpark to the rear entrance of the building. There is also a disabled parking space not far from the front entrance but this parking area tends to be more crowded.
Vertikal is located in the Dairy Road precinct which has wide and level pathways connecting Vertikal and nearby businesses.
General accessibility features:- Assistance animal welcome
- Disabled parking access
- Accessible payment and other interactive facilities
- Accessible toilet
- Accessibility aware and friendly staff
- Additional equipment available on request
Mobility accessibility features:- Level or ramp access to front entrance
- Level door threshold
- Straight and wide approach throughout
- Table service or assistance at restaurant
- Sufficient clearance for wheelchairs under tables
- Bathroom - accessible sink
- Bathroom - accessible soap
- Bathroom - accessible hand dryer
- Toilet - accessible grab rails
- Toilet - accessible toilet flush
Mobility Information:Vertical is in a large warehouse space with level front and rear entrances, with a level floor throughout the building, apart from the ski slope area, which is raised to accommodate mechanical plant. Vertikal staff can discuss options for accessing the ski slope area with clients who have mobility challenges in advance of their visit.
The wheelchair accessible toilet also has a change table suitable for a child.
The service counter/bar is above wheelchair height but payment facilities are mobile and staff will happily provide table service.
There are regular height tables with seating that can be moved to accommodate wheelchairs. The area is spacious, with ample room for wheelchair users to move through it.
Vision accessibility features:- Sufficient lighting
- No overhanging or protruding signage or other obstacles
Vision Information:A training bar can be placed across the ski slopes to provide vision impaired skiers with greater stability and guidance as they build their confidence and technique.
Vertikal provide water bowls for assistance animals and there are outdoor spaces nearby for toileting.
Hearing accessibility features:- Sufficient lighting (to enable lip reading and facial cues)
Hearing Information:Vertikal staff have used mobile phone text-based communication to instruct hearing-impaired skiers.
Autism/Sensory accessibility information:The pitch and speed of the Vertikal ski slopes can be adjusted to allow skiers who are on the autism spectrum to take a controlled and gradual approach to learning ski skills and to work close to their comfort zone. Instructors are mindful of the needs of people on the spectrum.
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Accessibility Information
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