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Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

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Vol. 7, No. 1 Winter 1999

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Let's Go Skiing

by Michael Meyreles, AT Practitioner, New Castle County ATRC

It is the middle of January, a foot of new snow has fallen, and you are itching to hit the slopes for a fun-filled day of skiing. Skiing is an extremely popular pastime and a very competitive sport enjoyed by many people, both those who are disabled and those who are not. From persons with physical disabilities resulting from amputation or quadriplegia to those who are blind, the opportunity to enjoy skiing can be achieved with the help of some pretty remarkable adapted ski equipment. This article will illustrate several examples of adaptive ski equipment available.

Adapted ski equipment supports either outrigger use or sit down skiing. Outriggers are typically used by persons who do not have the use of one leg. Skiing that employs the use of outriggers can be either 3-track or 4-track skiing. Three-track skiing involves three points of contact with the snow; one ski and two outriggers. Four-track skiing involves four separate ski sources for balance. An outrigger is a ski pole that resembles a Canadian crutch with a smaller ski at the end.

There are several types of sit down skis. One such type of is the Bi-Ski. This is sit-down skiing for a person with limited upper and lower body control. The Bi-Ski looks like a small chair mounted on two skis. The skis have a very wide front and rear but are narrower in the middle. The skier turns the Bi-Ski by leaning in the direction they want to go, and the severe ski sidecut makes the Bi-Ski go in that direction. A person can also use short outriggers or outriggers fixed to the frame for balance.

Bi-Ski
Bi-Ski

Another type of adapted ski equipment is the Mono-Ski. This is another sit-down skiing device used by individuals with a lower-body impairment, but relatively good upper-body strength and good balance. The Mono-Ski is similar to the Bi-Ski, but it is mounted on just a single ski with the skier using hand-held outriggers for balance and turning control.

Mono-Ski
Mono-Ski

Skiing with either the Mono Ski or Bi-Ski puts the skier very low to the ground for better balance. However, these types of skis are equipped with a mechanism that raises them to sitting height to allow easier access to the ski lift.

The last type of adapted sit-down ski equipment is the Sit-Ski. This type of sit-down ski looks like a short toboggan that sits right on top of the snow. The Sit-Ski is usually preferred by people with significant physical limitations. To turn the Sit-Ski, a skier can drag very short ski poles in the snow and lean in the desired direction.

Sit-Ski
Sit-Ski

Other less involved types of adapted ski equipment include ski bras and blind skier bibs. A ski bra is a small device that, when clipped to the front of the skis, keeps the skis from drifting apart or crossing over each other. Blind skier bibs are brightly colored orange bibs worn by a skier who is blind and his or her guide to alert other skiers.

Many of the largest resorts in the Poconos offer adapted ski programs for individuals with a disability. The major ski resorts in Colorado and Vermont are meccas for adapted skiing and excellent resources for information on the topic. It is usually a good idea to call ahead and inquire if the resort offers an adapted ski-training program. The ski resorts at Jack Frost and Big Boulder in the Poconos do offer an adapted ski training program, complete with rental of the adapted ski equipment.

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