Michelle Salt is charging forward through adversity

This story first appeared in print in the April/May issue of Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine.

Michelle Salt, a former Paralympic snowboarder, has decided to try her hand — and prosthetic leg — at snowmobiling. Driven by an inherent determination that stems from her competitive snowboarding roots, Michelle has refused to let her prosthetic get in the way of achieving her goals.

Breaking into a new sport is the same as breaking in a new boot — it takes time and persistence. As with any sport, first comes the logistics; the newbie must decipher when, where, and how these people meet. Michelle’s journey started in Revelstoke where she, like many others, was welcomed by the snowmobiling community with open arms. Her journey may have started as most others would, but it was certainly not going to be the same experience. The challenge of learning how to snowmobile with a prosthetic leg, coupled with being coached by others who have never dealt with this kind of situation, would have been enough for most to throw in the towel.

Salt adjusts her prosthetic leg for a day of sledding in the hills. Photo: Cassandra Prochera

The daily obstacles she faces, due to her impairment, have driven her to become a creative and dynamic thinker. From sled and gear modifications, to changing bolts on her prosthetic leg, Michelle has been doing just about anything she can to see her snowmobiling dream come to fruition.

As a paraplegic, Michelle’s sporting background is rooted in Paralympic snowboarding. Now that she has stepped out of the competitive field, she is trying to find time to reinvent her active leg. This is proving more of a challenge than she initially thought, as snowmobiling demands a high level of agility.

Yet, what started as taking corners on the heel, has evolved after adjusting the hydraulic shock in the knee; more compression has allowed for better rotation and has made for easier and sharper turns. An on-going process, Michelle continually makes minor tweaks and adjustments to her gear. Whether it’s during the climbs on the up-trail, or warming up in the cabin after a rip, it’s not uncommon to see her pulling out a multi-tool from her pack.

Former Paralympic snowboard competitor Michelle Salt is now taking up backcountry adventures on a sled. Photo: Cassandra Prochera

These minor tweaks may have served as temporary fixes for discomfort and stability issues, but the sport of sledding is not as forgiving as most — it wasn’t long before parts began to bend and break. While out in the backcountry one afternoon, Michelle was forced to sit on her sled after one of the bolts broke at the knee joint of her prosthetic. “We will figure it out!” was the immediate (and mutually shared) response to the problem, as her and her friends joked about splinting the prosthetic with duct tape and tree branches.

Not all problems, however, can be fixed with duct tape, tree branches and a positive attitude. It seemed that Michelle’s prosthetic could not match her own stamina levels. After driving on trips every weekend in pursuit of her new passion, her prosthetic finally crumbled under the weight of expectation; overuse caused it to snap clean in half at the knee. After some reading up, it seemed that a replacement would take weeks to arrive and would cost a pretty penny. After jumping straight into the sport, Michelle didn’t have much to spare for extra leg parts as well as the cost of sled parts. But still, “We will figure it out. Who knows a welder?”

Trevor, local business owner and journeyman welder at Mac’s Machine, has been welding power sports equipment and various types of watercraft for years. After meeting Michelle, he found himself adding “prosthetic leg” to his resume. The unusual experience was one that neither Trevor nor Michelle will likely forget anytime soon. Yet, it seems that the local welder was the right person for the job — fresh out of the shop, Michelle was ready to put the tack to the test with an afternoon back on the sled.

Despite her obvious setbacks, Michelle’s willful attitude to achieve has set a positive precedent for those looking to get into the sport. She has just purchased her first sled set up and is fully committed to driving forward with the sport. With her avalanche pack on her back, multi-tool in her hand and a smile on her face, she is ready to face any obstacles that may fall on the track in front of her.