Winter Sports for the Amputee Athlete

by Doug Pringle

Organized participation in winter sports by Skiing offers a unique opportunity as a sport people with disabilities has a relatively short that can be done with family and friends in a history. It began in the early 1950s when am­ facility open to the public. In that sense it is a putee veterans of World War II began to exper­ mainstreamed activity done with everyone else iment with skiing despite the loss of limbs. The rather than in a special facility. West Germans are credited with the invention Finally, there is something wonderful and of the outrigger, a crutch with ski tips attached, invigorating about the freedom of movement, which are used as balance assistors. This in­ speed, risk, and the natural environment of vention helped popularize the sport and several skiing. All these add to the experience. amputee ski clubs were formed in the United Skiing is the only winter sport offered to States. people with disabilities through formal pro­ During the late 50s and early 60s, amputee grams. These programs offer adaptive equip­ skiing was the mainstay of the sport. It was ment, qualified instruction and a competition during the late sixties and early seventies that system. Participation in other winter sports is others with one "bad" leg, such as polio not extensive. victims, began to ski using the technique devel­ oped for amputees. It was also during this time that amputees began experimenting with skiing with a prosthesis. Simultaneously, visually impaired people began to participate and the sport began to in­ Downhill Skiing clude more than amputees. In the late 70s, the Alpine Skiing major innovation was development of the Alpine (or downhill) skiing is the most pop­ "Four-Track" technique, which allowed many ular winter sport of people with disabilities in types of severely disabled people to ski. the United States. There are approximately The 1980s have contributed the technique 10,000 disabled skiers. The sport offers unique known as 'sit skiing.' This technique allows benefits to participants who are mobility im­ people who are wheelchair bound to participate paired, not the least of which is that gravity in the sport. supplies the means for movement. The benefits of participation in skiing are nu­ The development of adaptive equipment and merous. Physically the participant develops techniques has made it possible for even the se­ stamina, strength, balance, and coordination. verely disabled to participate. Adaptive skiing These are all valuable physical traits for a is divided into five major categories or tech­ person trying to compensate for a physical niques: problem. Psychologically, participants begin to de­ 1. Three track skiing velop a positive self-image and a "can do" at­ 2. Four track skiing titude. This positive thought cycle carries over 3. Blind skiing into other aspects of life such as education and 4. Sit skiing employment. 5. Other adaptive techniques Three Track Skiing the task becomes one of guiding or talking them down the hill. Above-knee and below-knee amputees, No adaptive equipment is required for the vi­ persons with polio or birth defects, and those sually impaired. Often the student and in­ with a variety of other problems, ski three track structor (or guide) wear bright bibs which in which the common element is having one signal to other skiers to be alert. good leg and two good arms. Above-knee am­ putees ski without their prosthesis because it is difficult to control. Below-knee amputees can ski with their prosthesis. The advantage is that Sit Skiing they can stand on it when stopped. The disad­ Sit skiing is the technique used by anyone vantage is increased risk of injury. who cannot ski standing. Sit skiers include Adaptive equipment for three trackers are people with muscular dystrophy, multiple scle­ outriggers. Outriggers are forearm crutches rosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paraplegia, with ski tips attached. They act as balance as- and quadraplegia. This technique has been used sistors and are used to "walk" on the flats. since 1980 and it has opened skiing to people Three track skiing derives its name from the who are wheelchair bound. three tracks made in the snow by two outriggers The sit ski has a fiberglass shell and metal and the single ski. edges. It is steered by leaning the body and by Some three trackers, especially racers, learn dragging a "pole" on the side to which the to ski with ski poles instead of outriggers. In skier wants to turn. An instructor skies behind fact, that is how people with one leg skied be­ the device holding a length of nylon mesh cord fore the invention of outriggers. While more in order to stop the skier and to assist with turns difficult, "one tracking" is also a possibility when necessary. Sit skiers often become profi­ for many and skiing with poles is an advanced cient enough to ski "untethered" or without instructional method. the instructor and safety line. The most recent development in sit skiing is the mono-ski. Here the fiberglass shell is Four Track Skiing mounted on a single ski and the skier uses out­ riggers. Use of a mono-ski requires good upper Four track skiing is used by people with a body strength. Therefore, it is a technique that wide variety of disabilities including: double is not suitable to quadraplegics and high-level leg amputees, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, paraplegics. muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, head trauma, paraplegia, and polio. An indi­ vidual with two legs and arms, natural or pros­ thetic, who is capable of standing indepen­ Other Adaptive Techniques dently (static balance), or with the aid of out­ riggers, could use this method. Many severely This catch-all category is used for a variety disabled people ski using this technique. of people with disabilities who don't fit into any of the other four. Among them are upper In addition to outriggers, a lateral stability extremity impairment: people who have lost the device is often used. This device is commonly use of one or both arms. Those with one good referred to as a "ski bra." It helps keep the arm use one ski pole and a pole can also be skiis parallel and also allows the student's used with an arm prosthesis. strong side to help control the weaker side. Below-knee amputees may choose to ski using their artificial leg or legs. A heel line is usually necesary to achieve a bent knee posi­ Blind Skiing tion. Waist straps and thigh lacers help provide Visually impaired students are taught the lateral stability, a snug fit, and reduced pis- same as any other skier with the exception that toning and rotation. A special ski leg can be the instructor must learn to communicate more made if the student decides to seriously pursue clearly. A number of holds or assists have been skiing. developed as well. Once the student can ski, The combination of disabilities and adaptive equipment are numerous. In competitions, 4405 East West Highway, Suite 603 some 19 different classes are recognized. But, Bethesda, MD 20814 generally, most people ski using one of the four major techniques. U.S. Association of Blind Athletes

Professional Ski Instructors of America Instruction 5541 Central Ave. Boulder, CO 80301 There are a number of programs of ski in­ struction available. Most are voluntary, Alpine Skiing, contact: weekend programs. There are five full-time Vineland National Center professional ski schools which specialize in P.O. Box 308 adaptive skiing and about 25 voluntary ones. Loretto, MN 55357 All but a few of these programs are chapters or affiliates of the National Handicapped Sports and Recreation Association (NHSRA). The NHSRA has also developed a clinic Nordic Skiing team which trains instructors in adaptive ski teaching. The team also advises on program de­ Nordic (or cross country) skiing is also pop­ livery. There is an instructor testing and certifi­ ular among people with disabilities. Since the cation program conducted by NHSRA which is sport does require more muscular effort for mo­ approved and recognized by the Professional tion than Alpine skiing, it is not an option for Ski Instructors of America. some severely disabled individuals. Among the participants are amputees skiing with their prosthesis and some who ski on one leg. Those on one leg must rely upon upper Competition body strength and use their poles to push them­ A natural outgrowth of participation in sports selves along. is the development of competition. A very well Nordic skiing is well suited for the visually developed system is in place. Learn to Race impaired. They may ski with a guide or follow clinics and training camps are conducted by a pre-set tracks in the snow. few of the instructional programs locally and Some more severely disabled people who by the NHSRA nationally. would be four-trackers in Alpine skiing, such Those interested in competition can race in as those with cerebral palsy, muscular dys­ any number of programs open to the public trophy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, head injury, such as NASTAR and United States Ski Asso­ etc., can also participate in Nordic skiing if ciation races. Further, there are ten sanctioned they are able to ambulate well. Some will re­ regional championships at which racers can quire assistance, pushing or pulling with a qualify for the nationals. rope, and frequent rest breaks are always a safe Both the NHSRA and U.S. Association of practice. Blind Athletes conduct annual national champi­ There is a sit ski for Nordic skiing. The sit onships. Both organizations also select athletes skier will need excellent upper body strength to for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team which com­ push themselves over any appreciable distance. petes in the World Winter Games for the Dis­ Again, assistance and rest stops will help. abled and the Winter Olympics for the Disabled. In 1986, the U.S. Disabled Ski Team was Instruction number one in the world at the games in Sweden. There are very few Nordic skiing instruc­ tional programs in the U.S. The sport is just beginning to develop. Those interested in learning the sport should check with a local Resources cross country ski resort to see if they have an National Handicapped Sports and Recreation instructor willing and qualified. Most will have Association difficulty finding a program nearby. Competition least 15 years. It was one option open to more severely mobility impaired individuals before The competition program described under development of four track and sit skiing. Alpine skiing exists for Nordic skiing. Nordic Ice boating and bike sailing are adaptable to events are held separately from Alpine events, a wide variety of mobility impairments. Ice but the U.S. Disabled Ski Team includes both fishing can also be enjoyed by many people. Alpine and Nordic competitors.

Other Winter Sports Author Doug Pringle is the past president of the National Handi­ Snowmobiling has been a sport in which capped Sports and Recreation Association, 5946 Illinois people with disabilities have participated for at Avenue, Organeville, California 95662.