There have been a loads of comments in the threads in the Disability Snowsport category about how many of us have seen various types of equipment, skiers and general area of adaptive skiing. Quite a few 'wow that's amazing' comments.

Can this thread be the area where those with an interest in adaptive snowsport can ask all the questions without having to stop a mono-ski in full flight and say how the heck does that work!

Fire away and we'll see what we can do to take the mystique out of the world of Disability Snowsport.

[A snowHead]

There have been a loads of comments in the threads in the Disability Snowsport category about how many of us have seen various types of equipment, skiers and general area of adaptive skiing. Quite a few 'wow that's amazing' comments.

Can this thread be the area where those with an interest in adaptive snowsport can ask all the questions without having to stop a mono-ski in full flight and say how the heck does that work!

Fire away and we'll see what we can do to take the mystique out of the world of Disability Snowsport.

John C, I'll follow this with interest (will be doing a BASI adaptive course at some point in the future). I'm skiing in Tignes at the moment and there are a couple of adaptive clubs with a few lightening fast sit-skiers, maybe the French national team from the logos on their kit. It never fails to impress me.

To kick things off can you give a very brief description of the different classes of adaptive skiing?

[A snowHead]

John C, I'll follow this with interest (will be doing a BASI adaptive course at some point in the future). I'm skiing in Tignes at the moment and there are a couple of adaptive clubs with a few lightening fast sit-skiers, maybe the French national team from the logos on their kit. It never fails to impress me.

To kick things off can you give a very brief description of the different classes of adaptive skiing?

John C, I'll follow this with interest (will be doing a BASI adaptive course at some point in the future). I'm skiing in Tignes at the moment and there are a couple of adaptive clubs with a few lightening fast sit-skiers, maybe the French national team from the logos on their kit. It never fails to impress me.

To kick things off can you give a very brief description of the different classes of adaptive skiing?

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John C, What about the 4 trackers? Many CP and stroke guys are 2 legs and 2 outriggers...

I'll see if I can find a photo of a buddy...

The other neuro deficit people are another category. These often don't need special equipment but may need very specialised teaching. (Although one instructor buddy of mine was going to make me special auditory feedback equipment - but I improved enough to not need it before he built it. It would still be an interesting project to attempt for some folks)

[Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.]

Oh and I know 1 three tracker who is 2 legs 1 outrigger(brain surgery affected the outrigger side IIRC)

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Oh and the learning disabilities group also.

I have worked with a downs syndrome lady. They often need a ski bra to help with snowplow but there are usually other issues. The lady I worked with also had cardiac issues etc and learning issues.

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Little Tiger, exactly, knew I miss loads. 4 trackers aye, missed 4 trackers. Also a popular one with the ladies, 5 trackers. he he he.

Interesting mentioning CP. I have two friends with CP. One sit-skis and one stands. Clearly as in life for every individual there are individual preferences. Ah doesn't difference make the world a more interesting place?

Re. other groups of people, I was more focusing on equipment than the individuals and what differences they may have as a person but yes, a learning disability poses a whole other set of challenges to be overcome...where there's a will...

[After all it is free]

John C, little tiger, thanks for the info.

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John C,

Yep...
One of my instructors had a starlight foundation kid. That kid would have a seizure everytime he got emotionally worked up. So Excitement, happy, scared, worried etc all resulted in seizures. At one stage the instructor looked at him skiing at went "OMG he looks like her" and then had to break the news to the kids parents that along with his other issues he had a proprioceptive loss and they needed to ensure they managed to allow for this as well.

That kid just wanted to go "up the big hill" (ie off the beginner slope) My instructor took him on a bunch of "desensitisation" rides on the "big" chairlift. The big day came and they headed for the "big hill". Kid got so excited going up the chairlift with his skis on that he had a seizure as they hit the top. Instructor is sitting on chairlift trying to hold kid on chair and get lift stopped and get kid off.

Instructor was a demanding beast race coach - with a heart of gold and a big softy in reality. He had the ski patrol give the kid a ride to a lookout outside resort to see Mt Kosciusko(our highest peak) and stuff like that. These are the sorts of people get really into disabled instructing. He loved the variety. He would come racing in from running a race program to change over to teaching disabled skiers. he loved all his students no matter how well they skied(in some cases he was just dragging them around the slopes almost - others were racing FIS races)

[Ski the Net with snowHeads]

We used a variation on a theme for a 4-track system by using a zimmer frame idea on out skis and tethers on them so that he couldn't escape! He had downs and wasn't great with his balance!



The best thing about adaptive skiing is that each person can have a different system. You have covered the types - apart from snowboarding! - but i love the challenge of fitting someone new to something! Bi-skis can have one fixed and one hand held rigger, for example!



Here, we fitted our lass to a snowboard. She is a double AK amputee so we plugged her into the board and off she went! Having no toes to lift the edge didn't matter once we'd harnessed her to the board!

As you said, John C, where there's a will, there's a way!!