|
|
Gateway Disabled Ski Program
Basic Adaptive Ski Techniques and Equipment
|
Ski equipment can be different for people with different types of disabilities. Athletes may use conventional skis with special instruction, two, three or four track skiing.
Athletes with partial paralysis, visual or hearing impairments may use conventional ski equipment with special instruction.
Snow Sliders, a type of ski mounted to a walker, or Outriggers may be used to enhance balance.
Athletes with paralysis, lack of muscle control or severe spacticity may use a type of sit ski called a Bi-ski or a Mono-ski, with or without outriggers, and a volunteer to tether them.
Volunteers aid all skiers by skiing with them as a ski-buddy, instructing them as they ski, skiing as out-skiers to protect and help athletes when they fall or by tethering the skier.
|
Snow Slider
The Snow Slider Walker is a lightweight , diverse, steerable stand-up aid that has a full range of steering and speed control adjustments with various skill levels to ski on varying terrain and snow conditions. The snow-slider is for skiers requiring upper body or whole body stabilization as well as visually impaired athletes.
Three-tracking
Three-tracking is for skiers who have one sound leg (with or without a prosthesis) and two sound arms; individuals who have had amputations, post-polio, developmental or muscular disease that affects one leg and not the other, or have had a stroke or brain trauma. Three-trackers use a standard alpine ski and two outriggers, giving them three points of contact on the snow to provide increased balance.
Outriggers
Outriggers are adapted forearm crutches with ski tips mounted on the bottom. They aid the skier in balance, mobility, and turning. Outriggers are also used as crutches when not on the snow.
Four-Track
Four-Track is for skiers who have a mobility impairment that requires them to use outriggers or a walker for stability while skiing on two skis. Outriggers and walkers help people with lack of lateral control and balance who normally require the assistance of crutches or a cane to walk. Common disabilities include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or those who have lower extremity amputations.
Bi-ski
Bi-ski individuals ski in a rigid seat mounted to two shorter, wider, heavily side cut skis. The bi-ski can be skied independently with the use of two outriggers for balance and turning. Some participants use hand-held outriggers, while others ski with fixed outriggers attached to the base of the bi-ski. For beginning skiers or those needing more assistance, fixed outriggers and a handlebar are normally utilized. The bi-ski must be tethered by an instructor when fixed outriggers are used. This equipment provides greater stability than a mono-ski and is typically used by people who use wheelchairs or ambulate with difficulty using crutches, canes or walkers. Disabilities might include cerebral palsy, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and spinal cord injury.
Mono-ski
A Mono-ski is a piece of equipment where individuals sit in a molded seat that is mounted to a single ski and use hand-held outriggers. The mono-ski is the most versitile piece of sit-down equipment and requires the greatest balance and strength to operate. It is designed for people with double amputations, lower level spinal cord injuries, and other disabilities such as spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. Mono-ski techniques are very similar to three track.
 |
|
Join the Fun Athletes and Volunteers
Print your Registration and Mail it to:
Hidden Valley Ski Area
17409 Hidden Valley Drive
Wildwood, Missouri 63025
or
e-mail GDSP for additional information:
gdsp.org@hotmail.com
636 938-6478
GDSP
5924 Flint Ridge Road
Pacific, Missouri 63069
|
|
|
|
 |
