Whitefish local looks forward to hitting the slopes again on new mono-ski

Jeff Lozeau is excited to go skiing and experience the smell of the snow and the sound of the edges digging into the turns. It’s been a while since he’s been on the slopes.

He is stoked to spend the week skiing with his good friend Taylor Torisk, a DREAM certified adaptive ski instructor. Torisk is flying from his home in Texas to show Jeff how to ride his new mono-ski.

“I can’t wait to see people up there and just get back into the community, run into people I haven’t seen in a long time,” Lozeau said. “Say hi, and wave and say thank you.”

After he graduated from Flathead High School, Lozeau moved away for college, and has lived in the valley since. His mom and step-father live in Kalispell. In the summer, Lozeau works at the Alpine Market and lives nearby. He can keep an eye on conditions on Big Mountain from his living room window.

He skied and snowboarded on the mountain until five years ago when a neurological disorder that affects about 85% of his body put him in a wheelchair. He’s had to negotiate this new way of living.

“There’s no orientation class for being in a wheelchair,” he said.

Without a manual to guide the transition from walking to wheeling, 90% of the initial struggle was finding out what is available and how to do things. Everything is a challenge.

“Sure, I’ve done laundry hundreds of times, but I’d never done it from a lawn chair,” Lozeau said.

When meeting Lozeau, his optimistic attitude and positive mindset are more obvious than the wheelchair. He realizes time spent sulking only makes things more difficult.

“I’m a more positive person; I don’t have a choice,” he said.

Along with his optimistic outlook, he has a great bunch of friends. Lozeau credits his friends, Dave Wood, a local big mountain skier, and Torisk with inspiring him to ski again. They had discussed working with DREAM next year to help Lozeau return to the mountain but then the idea struck to get his own ski.

Wood and Torisk encouraged Lozeau to start a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to buy the ski he needs to get back on the slopes. The idea of crowdfunding can raise eyebrows but Lozeau says the process can be extremely beneficial when used responsibly.

Lozeau’s story touched many hearts and moved many people to donate. As of Monday, 34 people have donated $2,700. This means Lozeau is able to buy the used adaptive rigging he’s been eyeing online and have it shipped to him. With the money, he can also buy a couple of lift tickets. He is beyond thankful for the show of support.

“This is as much for my mental health and my self-esteem and my confidence than for anything else,” he said. “I just feel so good about myself, having people care about me like this, it’s just unbelievable.”

The mono-ski has two main parts. The support structure includes a molded plastic seat that fits the rider, a suspension system, and a place for the rider’s feet. A block called a ‘boot’ clicks into a heavy-duty, racing binding. The ski looks like a regular powder board but has a greater camber and is a bit wider than most skis.

The rider uses poles called ‘outriggers’ that have short ski blades at the bottom. These allow the skier to shift his weight from side to side to carve the turns. They also help the rider load himself on the ski lift. He plants his poles, lifts himself up and the chair slides under the seat.

When Lisa Horner from the I Run For Bob nonprofit heard about Lozeau’s GoFundMe page, she contacted him directly to see how she could help. He obtained the structural part from eBay but still needed the ski and the binding. Horner decided the foundation would complete Lozeau’s new setup.

“(They are) an excellent foundation that I had never heard of until this started,” said Lozeau.

According to their website, I Run For Bob is a foundation that helps “individuals with life-altering injuries or disabilities continue to enjoy recreational activities.” Its namesake is Missoula Police Sergeant Bob Heinle who was shot in the line of duty in 1998. The injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down.

He had an active lifestyle and pursued outdoor activities with the use of adaptive equipment. The foundation offers access to adaptive equipment for golfing, climbing, skiing, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities.

Adaptive equipment and modifications are expensive and often unattainable for the people who need them. For example, a pair of special winter tires for wheelchairs, much like the tires on a fat bike, costs $1100. Without them, Lozeau still gets out in his chair during the winter.

“It’s actually a good workout when there’s snow out there,” he said.

Lozeau and his custom support team are thrilled for the chance to ski again and extremely grateful for the opportunity. Skiing again will not only benefit his body and mind this season, but the rewards will continue throughout the year.

“Next fall, to not be dreading when the snow flies is going to be amazing. Actually to be looking forward to winter again,” he mused.

Lozeau plans to head to The Big the first week of February to learn to ski again. This time, he’ll be riding a mono ski and sporting a huge smile on his face.

“I hope it’s not too cold that first day I go up because I’m sure there’s probably going to be tears inside my goggles," he said. "I’ll be a little choked up, I’m sure.”

For more information visit Lozeau's GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/help-jeff-realize-his-goal