Skiing With a Disability
By Petrofsky, Jerrold S.; PALAESTRA: Forum of Sport, Physical Education & Recreation For Those With Disabilities , Vol. 13, No. 1Publication Date: 1997
Article discusses special venues, training, and equipment making skiing accessible as a sport for people with disabilities. Many ski areas have schools specializing in working with disabled skiers. Adaptive ski schools offer two types of programs, lessons and ski-buddy programs, with rates varying from $15 for an entire day with a ski buddy, to $60 for a two-hour lesson with an instructor. For skiers with visual impairment, an instructor skis close behind and verbally directs the skier. Advice is given on proper clothing to avoid frost bite and keeping a low work load on high-altitude slopes for people with impaired lung function. Ski equipment discussed include outriggers, modified Canadian crutches with a small ski on the end used instead of poles for balance; skis mounted to walkers; and, for people who are unable to stand, adaptive skis on which the skier sits in a bucket; mono ski models, with one ski attached to the bucket, are made by companies such as Yetti, Shadow, J and K, and Grove. Models with two skis, which provide greater support for skiers with disabilities such as quadriplegia or cerebral palsy, include those made by Mountain Man and Milti. A section of competitive skiing discusses the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Committee’s efforts to devise a handicap-factor system to allow the awarding of a single gold, silver, or bronze medal for a particular race. A resource list of adaptive ski schools in several states is appended.
Assistive Products Discussed: YETTI FRAMEWORK
YETTI KESTRAL & MERLIN
RADVENTURE THREE-TRACKERS OUTRIGGERS
RADVENTURE MONO-SKI OUTRIGGERS
SHADOW MONO-SKI
SUPERLITE OUTRIGGERS
Published by: Challenge Publications, Ltd. (Website:http://www.palaestra.com)
Adapted Physical Activity Council (Web Site: http://www.aahperd.org/AAALF/apac/ )
Link to text: http://www.palaestra.com/skierfeaturestory.html
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J33335
