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ADAPTIVE

If you or a friend or family member are disabled, its possible to go skiing with just about any disability.Adaptive or disabled skiing also works for people where there is no special equipment required and the skier works with a trained guide or guides. These disabilities include visual impairment, deafness, learning difficulties; The aim is to get anyone and everyone skiing regardless of their disability!

The level of control or assistance you will need will be entirely disability related. Special adapted equipment is necessary for some people. The following links will help you to get involved in this area of snowsports:

Disability Snowsport UK

British Disabled Ski Team (BDST)

ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT

The equipment listed below is the type of equipment which can be used to help disabled people achieve their dreams by being involved in snowsports.

Bi Ski

A bi-ski is a sit ski with a moulded bucket seat and two skis that can be skied independently like the mono-ski with hand-held outriggers, or can be skied with the assistance of an instructor using stabilizing outriggers and tethers. The skier moves his or her head, shoulders or hand-held outriggers to turn the bi-ski. The bi-ski has a lift mechanism for getting onto a chairlift. It can also be used to accustom a new sit-skier to the snow before moving to a mono-ski. Bi-skis are used by people with upper and lower limb impairments and with poor balance.

People with these impairments might bi-ski: Cerebral palsy, Multiple sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, Amputees, Spinal cord injury, Severe epilepsy, Spina bifida, Severe balance impairment. Outriggers are metal elbow crutches with the tip section of a ski pivoted on the bottom of the crutch. Some outriggers have adjustable brakes attached to the back edge of the ski to give some speed control. Outriggers are used to aid balance and/or to give support. Outriggers are used by mono-skiers, bi-skiers and standing skiers needing aid with balance

Mono Ski

A mono ski is a seat mounted on a single ski through a spring suspension system. Outriggers are used for balance and propulsion on flat snow. Mono-skis have a mechanism for getting onto a chairlift. They are designed to be skied independently. Mono-skis are used by people with lower limb impairments with reasonable balance. People with these impairments might mono-ski: Brain Trauma, Double amputee, Post-polio, Muscular dystrophy, Cerebral palsy, Spinal cord injury, Multiple sclerosis, Spina-bifida.

Outriggers are metal elbow crutches with the tip section of a ski pivoted on the bottom of the crutch. Some outriggers have adjustable brakes attached to the back edge of the ski to give some speed control. Outriggers are used to aid balance and/or to give support. Outriggers are used by mono-skiers, bi-skiers and standing skiers needing aid with balance

Two Track

Two Track Skiing is suitable for any skier who stands on two skis and does not require outriggers. The skier can stand and maintain balance while in motion, although adaptive equipment such as tethers and ski bras may be used to aid in leg strength. Two tracking is best suited to students with developmental and cognitive disabilities, visual impairment, and hearing impairment.

Three Track

Three track skiers have one sound leg and two sound arms. They are generally individuals who have amputations, post polio or hemiplegia. Three trackers use a full size ski and outriggers giving them three points of contact on the snow. These skiers usually progress quite rapidly. Outriggers are metal elbow crutches with the tip section of a ski pivoted on the bottom of the crutch.

Some outriggers have adjustable brakes attached to the back edge of the ski to give some speed control. Outriggers are used to aid balance and/or to give support. Outriggers are used by mono-skiers, bi-skiers and standing skiers needing aid with balance.

Four Track

Four track skiing is stand up skiing using two skis with two hand-held outriggers for balance. In addition, students may use a variety of other stabilising equipment. Provides student with four-points of contact with the snow. Designed for those with leg strength and/or stability issues. People with these impairments might use four track skiing: Cerebral palsy, Multiple sclerosis, Post-polio, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, Muscular dystrophy, Spina bifida, Amputees.

Outriggers are metal elbow crutches with the tip section of a ski pivoted on the bottom of the crutch. Some outriggers have adjustable brakes attached to the back edge of the ski to give some speed control. Outriggers are used to aid balance and/or to give support.