For years, he was an athlete. A cross-country skier who knew every trail, every hill, every quiet stretch of snow-covered path. The outdoors wasn't just a hobby; it was who he was. But then came the Parkinson's diagnosis. Gradually, the trails he loved became unreachable. The uneven terrain, the ice, the risk of falling, it all added up to that devastating reality.
The man who once glided through winter landscapes found himself watching the seasons change from inside. That changed when he discovered Polar Skis. With our mobility skis attached to his walker, he stepped outside again. And walked. On snow. On trails. The same ones that had felt impossibly far away years before.

It wasn't just the walking, it was the joy. That unmistakable, cheeky smile of someone who had gotten a piece of himself back. The smile of an outdoor athlete returning home. He shared his experience with an online community of mobility aid users, and the response was immediate: others who understood what it meant to reclaim independence, one snowy step at a time.

This is why we do what we do at Polar Skis. Because everyone deserves the trail.

For five years, Nelly was a dog who lived for the outdoors. A Lab mix who knew every trail and beach in Manitoba, always ready for the next adventure. But then came the Stage 5 IVDD diagnosis. Intervertebral Disc Disease changed everything in an instant. The freedom she’d always known became unreachable. Her back legs, once tireless on long hikes, no longer worked, adding up to a devastating reality.

The dog who once ran through winter landscapes found herself watching from inside. That changed when her family gave her a second chance. With a wheelchair supporting her hind legs and Polar Skis attached, Nelly stepped outside again. And ran. On snow. On trails. The same ones that had felt impossibly far away.

It wasn’t just the running; it was the joy. Watching her wheel through snow-covered paths, tail wagging, you see it. Through her Instagram @nellywheels, she became an ambassador, proving dogs can thrive with a disability. Her family tells everyone: "Don't feel sorry for dogs like her. Nelly is happy, pain-free, and living her best life."

This is why we do what we do at Polar Skis. Because every trail deserves to be explored.

In February 2020, we received a message from Kartus Chairs. They were preparing for the Pentathlon des Neiges in Quebec City, a grueling winter multi-sport event, and wanted to test our skis to help their athletes have a better experience on the snow.

There was just one problem: the Kartus chair's rear wheels are 26 inches, and our largest bracket at the time only fit wheels up to 22 inches.

But at Polar Skis, we believe everyone deserves the trail. So we got to work. Within weeks, we designed and fabricated a prototype XL wheel bracket specifically to accommodate those 26-inch rear wheels, because these athletes and their co-athletes weren't going to miss their event.

The verdict after the Pentathlon? "Just to let you know that the skis were great and we had a great event. The extra work is very appreciated."

That summer, Kartus came back asking us to manufacture the ski sets they'd used at the event. And just like that, the RX-XL was born.

Since then, the RX-XL has been used on wheelchairs, adaptive devices, and trailers across Canada. Kartus returned to the Pentathlon des Neiges in 2023, and the feedback remained the same: "Skis were great, we had waiting customers who were very happy with their purchase."

The RX-XL and standard RX use the exact same ski, the only difference is the size of the wheel bracket. In the images below, you'll see the RX-XL on the rear wheels and the RX on the front wheels, working together to keep athletes moving through snow.

This is why we do what we do. Because everyone deserves the trail.