The Family Link That Helped Put A Teen On Snow Sport Pathway

Long before she became Zane’s mum, Ana Meyers spent her winters in the mountains of Europe, guiding athletes with vision impairment down snow covered slopes.

At the time, she thought she was simply helping others find freedom on snow. She had no way of knowing those winters were rehearsals for motherhood.

The communication, trust and calm she once learned guiding athletes through alpine terrain would later become strangely familiar skills in raising her own son, Zane.

The teenager – who has the degenerative eye condition retinitis pigmentosa – has always been happiest outdoors, playing soccer, mountain biking, running, anything that keeps him moving.

But as his vision has deteriorated, Ana has found herself wondering not what sports he could play now, but what sports might still be possible for him in the future.

She started searching for activities he could keep doing with confidence and independence – anything that would keep a young boy active and engaged, while bringing a sense of stability through a changing time. 

The starting point was familiar.

This winter, Snow Australia’s Adaptive Festivals – supported by Paralympics Australia, Disability Winterport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport – will introduce Australians with disability to adaptive snow sports in a fun and supportive environment, often serving as the first step into the Para snow sport pathway.

In 2025, the Meyers family attended the inaugural Adaptive Festival, hoping for Zane to try something new.

“We have been on the search for sports that he can still practice in the future as his sight continues to deteriorate,” Ana said.

“Alpine skiing ticked all of the boxes: nature, speed, community.”

Zane, then just 13, took the chance to explore a sport he barely knew.

“I had been snowboarding in Europe, Canada and Australia,” he said.

“The Adaptive Festival was an opportunity to give alpine skiing a go since I had only been on skis twice and I was still in two minds about skiing or snowboarding.”

The family’s expectations were straightforward: for Zane to fall in love with the mountains, the snow and the sport.

“I must say that it was achieved,” Ana said

The festival also introduced Zane to a community navigating similar experiences.

“We were all learning and having fun,” he said.

“I also met Ben, a boy my age with a physical impairment, and we are now friends. I like the snow, the speed and the community there. Everyone is friendly.”

Then came the moment he was hooked.

“Once I started to go a bit fast and felt that I was in control, I loved it,” he said.

Living with retinitis pigmentosa brings challenges that many people do not immediately understand. The condition leaves Zane with limited peripheral vision, something that can create difficulties both on and off the slopes.

“In my day-to-day, I don’t tell people that I have a vision impairment,” he said.

“It does not look like I have a vision impairment. It is hard to explain.”

On snow, guides help athletes navigate safely using headsets and verbal communication – a responsibility his mum knows intimately. 

“My biggest challenge skiing is that I may run into another skier or other skiers run into me and I don’t see them coming,” Zane said.

“This is why I follow a guide for safety.”

Yet the sport has also shown him what he is capable of.

“I didn’t think that I would be able to participate in ski races straight away,” he said.

“But I tried one for Interschools and a social race at the end of the year. I couldn’t believe that I finished both races without crashing or making big mistakes. I was so happy.”

Following the Adaptive Festival, Zane was invited to attend development camps and join Snow Australia’s Emerging Talent Program, opportunities that arrived much sooner than his family expected.

“When Zane was invited to join a Development Camp and the Emerging Talent Program, we were very happy for him to have those opportunities,” Ana said.

“We just were not ready for these opportunities to be offered so quickly.”

Snow Australia’s Para Pathway Manager, Bobbi Kelly said Zane made an immediate impression.

“What stood out most was how naturally he took to the sport and, most importantly, how much fun he had,” Kelly said.

“He approached every challenge with enthusiasm and genuine enjoyment, which is exactly what we love to see in young athletes.”

Kelly said his growth had extended far beyond technical development.

“Skiing has really shown Zane that anything is possible,” she said.

“Over the course of the season, we’ve seen his confidence grow significantly, not only in his skiing ability but also in his willingness to take on new challenges.”

Pursuing Para alpine skiing from Queensland requires commitment from the whole family. It’s a long journey from the Sunshine Coast to the snowfields and, in many ways, worlds apart.

This winter, Zane will travel to Perisher three times for development camps and competitions, balancing school commitments with opportunities on snow.

“It actually looks a bit crazy,” Ana laughed.

“My husband and I have full time jobs on the Sunshine Coast.

“We don’t want Zane to miss out on too much school either, so this year I will travel with him to Perisher.”

Kelly said athletes like Zane make the most of every opportunity.

“It takes a significant commitment,” she said.

“Success in skiing comes from spending time on snow and consistently developing your skills over many years.

“Some people think you can try the sport once and immediately compete at a high level, but the reality is that progression comes from dedication, hard work and making the most of every opportunity to train.”

For now, Zane is focused on building confidence on the snow.

“At the moment I want to get better at skiing in general, faster and not crashing too often,” he said.

But he’s eyeing something much bigger.

“My goal is to be selected in the Australian Para Alpine Ski Team when I am old enough.”

Ana sees the Adaptive Festival as the moment everything changed.

“The Adaptive Festival has opened the door to big dreams,” she said.

“The idea was to go and have fun, but he found not only a fun experience. He made friends and he has had an opportunity to see what the sport is about.”

For families considering taking that same first step, her advice is simply:

“Don’t think twice,” she said. “Go and have fun.”

Upcoming Adaptive Festivals

• Falls Creek, Friday 17 July – Sunday 19 July 2026
• Mt Buller, Friday 14 August – Sunday 16 August 2026
• Perisher, Friday 11 September – Sunday 13 September 2026

For more information visit: www.snow.org.au

Or contact: Bobbi Kelly, Snow Australia Para Pathway Manager: [email protected]

By Ashley Gillespie, Paralympics Australia.

Published 24 June, 2026.