A How-to Guide: Skiing with a Disability
A Beginners Guide to Hitting the Slopes with Adaptive Skiing
Speaking from my limited personal experience, skiing is a sport that is both difficult and intensely physical but also exhilarating and empowering. While my disability allows me to struggle along with regular skiing equipment, we luckily live in a time where skiing is rapidly becoming more accessible for people with disabilities through adaptive skiing organizations and equipment.
So, how does one go about hitting the slopes? In the following blog post, I’ll lead you through step by step on how to shred some powder, regardless of any physical impairments.
Step One: Learning How to Ski
Like most things, patience and resilience is required to learn how to ski before you are able to zip down the slopes by yourself. The first step to that solo trip down the mountain is to book some lessons on the slopes nearest to you to learn techniques and how to use the equipment.
Luckily, Disabled Sports USA and Move United have expanded their chapters of adaptive ski programs in the United States to encompass locations like New York, California, Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois, and more.
Even if you don’t see a nearby location on the list linked below, more and more ski resorts are starting to offer adaptive equipment and some lessons, so always call to see if there might be a possibility of some lessons at your closest ski resort!
Once you locate an adaptive program, feel free to call and ask any questions to address any concerns you may have! Remember, you’ll be paying these instructors to best help you learn to ski within your means, so asking questions is an important step to prepare both sides to have the best lessons possible.
In the days leading up to your lessons, make sure you get a few good nights of sleep and drink plenty of fluids. For some types of disabilities, make sure you consult with your doctor prior to the lessons to ensure that you can hit the slopes as safely as possible.
As an added bonus, a lot of the adaptive ski programs dotting the country offer scholarships for people in need of financial assistance!
Once you arrive at your first lesson, expect to spend approximately an hour to three hours with instructors. Remember, communicating limitations and desires is key to a great lesson!
Step 2: Refining Your Chosen Method of Skiing
Adaptive skiing has progressed to the point that there are many different types of adaptive equipment for people of varying physical impairments. There are two main categories to adaptive skiing: equipment for those who can stand and ski, and those who cannot.
The first category is assistive equipment for those who can stand and ski.
The first method in this category is called four-track skiing. This method is perfect for people with a wide variety of disabilities, including amputees, those with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and paraplegia. You ski by using two skis with two hand-held outriggers for support, which works to give skiers four points of contact with the snow. This aids in balance and stability. Additionally, a tip clamp can be put on the ski to allow a skier’s strong side to control the weaker side.
Much like four-track skiing, three-track skiing uses the two hand-held outriggers but only uses one ski. This gives skiers three points of contact with the snow and is best suited for amputees. However, this method does require more upper body strength than other methods, which is something to keep in mind.
The second category is for those who are able to sit and ski.
The first method in this category is called mono-skiing, which utilizes a bucket-style seat with a single ski underneath it to go down slopes. A person uses the same handheld outriggers for balance as the previous category. The typical candidate for mono-skiing would be a person with mid-to high-level spinal cord injuries or other disabilities with severe balance impairments.
Much like mono-skiing, bi-skiing once again uses a bucket style seat, but this method has two skis underneath. If a skier can independently hold handheld outriggers, they are more than welcome. Otherwise, fixed outriggers can be used. The ideal candidate for this method would be those who have severe balance impairments and cannot hold outriggers.
Are you visually impaired? There are also instructors for you! Specially trained guides can assist in teaching you to maneuver down the slope with communication being a vital tool for learning. Instructors can either ski ahead, behind, or beside you to assist where needed!
Step 3: Practice Makes Perfect
Once you have finished your first set of lessons and decided which method makes the most sense for you, the world is ready for you to ski! Adaptive equipment can be rented at many ski resorts, and if you are frequently hitting the slope, they can be bought online.
Like most sports, skiing will take patience and practice that will no doubt pay off every time you ski down a slope solo.
Good Luck!
List of Adaptive Ski Programs
Articles to Assist in Starting to Ski
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