Adaptive Snowboarding/Skiing

I am an adaptive instructor and have worked with a variety of disabilities.

The way I've seen it done and had to do it myself as a snowboarder is to dig your toe edge in with the board across the slope and push off like you're hopping.

how do you become one?

at mt high, ive seen a female snowboarder with the walkers. she had full mobility. i think that in certain conditions with the poles, she would have better traction that I would have.   it looked different. but it was still cool.

Originally posted by working at mt high, ive seen a female snowboarder with the walkers. she had full mobility. i think that in certain conditions with the poles, she would have better traction that I would have.   it looked different. but it was still cool.

She is awesome!!! She even started hitting boxes this season!

Originally posted by Hydrosonic That's Dianna, I get to take some credit in teaching her. Those things she uses are called hand riggers. She bought her own, can ski and snowboard. She needs the riggers for balance. She doesn't have a lot of strength in her legs. She even competed this year in a small comp.

bravo to Diana and to you.

i was going to ask her about them. but she got off on the side of the lift.

Thanks Newfounder for posting this thread. I am a girl skier from Argentina and I started teaching to adaptive DD skiers in 2004 at Heavenly. Now I work at Cerro Catedral in Bariloche, Argentina.

As regards tips, I believe that nothing that anyone tells you could be done with all of your adaptive students. Each case will be different and you should be able to open your eyes and ears to understand the student´s (or parents´) needs and try to fullfill them and have a great time together! Follow your intuiton and your heart and never ever ever push your students too hard to try to achieve goals that are too difficult for them, just set small goals and you´ll see how your adaptive students enjoy the process and feel excellent when achieving them. (Same will happen to you!!! )

At my snowsports school, I do mostly snowboard adaptive, and stand-up ski adaptives. I have taught students with skeletal deformities, students with dwarfism, and students who have had strokes. I have assisted with veterans who have had amputations and bi-skiers with CP, but our sit-ski is so broken down and heavy, that I do not often take the reins. I have also become somewhat of a specialist in teaching children with autism, and have learned through teaching all of these students that the most important thing is helping the students set realistic and achievable goals. When you ask them what they want to accomplish, it gives them ownership of their snowsports learning, and builds confidence.

 

Thanks for opening up this great discussion.

i volunteered as an instructor at a private hill, jesus those kids didnt know anything. but i got a free membership..

To any of those who are wanting to get into adaptive sports, it's very reward to both you and the student. You'll be amazed how positive these students are and if they are not, it's your job to boost their confidence and make them feel there is nothing they can't do.

I'm really glad there has been such a large response to my post,  and I'm glad there are so many adaptive skiers and boarders here at Sierra.  Last year I taught a teenager my age with muscle mass deficiency, by the end of the day, he had gone from blue square to moguls.  I think that working up slowly helped (I had had previous lessons with him) but once he started, he didn't want to stop.  He also liked going behind a snowboarder because he said it was easier to follow the boards trail.

I've never seen adaptive snowboarding before....the skiing looks pretty amazing and like a lot of fun.

I googled a bit, couldn't really find a solid definition on 'adaptive snowboarding'

Nice, this is all very interesting reading this. As a recent complete paraplegic i have been looking into as much information i can about adaptive programs for myself to get into some sit skiing.
Hoping i can catch the end of the Aus season and get into it.
Its great to see people sharing their experience with the adaptive programs! :)

My mom tries to get me to take my brother who has classical autism up to the hill with me but he doesn't want to do it.

BTW I also have Asperger's/whatever the hell you want to call it and I'm also a kinesthetic learner - I picked up the basics quite quickly and I've progressed quite nicely for the past 6 years of boarding.

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I would say post both the pictures and the videos either or both places. It would help us out and also let others be able to see what we're talking about rather than trying to imagine it. As far as i know however, the ski resorts in NH have the Adaptive program running all 7 days a week. that includes (loon, waterville, gunstock, bretton woods). besides those four im not really all that connected with other programs. I'd check on their website or call for the others.

Originally posted by gfcthomas skiing is so easycool if you are going to do tricks that is but snowboarding is cool even if you dont know any trick that why i board

As much as I love working in the Adaptive program I dont think that i can keep it up much longer. Becasue its all voulenteer I dont get paid and cant afford to go up everyweekend and pay for gas if im still in school. I think i might have to switch and start teaching but will def try to put some time in with Adaptive.