Adaptive skiing
Photos of an adaptive bi-ski in action in Alaska at -5!
Well, my plan to ski once the weather improved was a good one but it hasn’t played out quite as I anticipated. A massive front of high pressure is keeping frigid Arctic air over Alaska and there is no end in sight. We actually went home for a couple days but found that the Wasilla temperatures were close to -20 and that was worse than -5 in Girdwood. So, we did what most Alaskans do…we toughened up and decided to make the best of it.
Despite being -5 at the base and almost -10 at the summit today we bundled Q in every concievable layer and article of clothing, from hand and toe warmers to balaklava’s and went skiing. The mountain is actually in incredible condition…the groomers are smooth and the snow is really fast. And, the upside to miserably cold weather is that there aren’t any lift lines to stand in.
We would do a couple runs and then get inside to warm up and then head back out for a couple more…our day went that way and it was great. Quincy had a blast! But, the main reason I share all this is because I wanted to follow up my last post by showing photos of the bi-ski in action. After several attempts I got a great shot of what Rob and Quincy do to ski together.
Rob uses the tether lines to steer the bi ski. A little pressure on either line will cause the bi ski to carve an arc across the slope. Quincy’s bi ski is manufactured by Enabling Technologies which can be found at superlite.org. Woody and his team were fantastic to work with as we designed a ski to fit Quincy’s needs. They are true professionals and I would recommend them to any disabled athelete interested in obtaining adaptive equipment.
Our holiday vacation is quickly coming to an end and we have enjoyed it thoroughly. My only regret is not writing quite as regularly as usual. I plan to do better once we get back into our regular routine. I am looking forward to all that 2009 will bring to our lives and wish each of you a very healthy and happy New Year!
What does a bi-ski used by a disabled skier look like?
I hope the holidays have been full of blessings for each of you and your families. During the past week we have been relaxing and enjoying our time together. The days prior to Christmas were just perfect for skiing and we hit the slopes daily…it was a blast. Unfortunately, Alaska has been hit with one of it’s famous cold snaps and it was -6 today on the mountain. We braved the bitter cold to watch my son participate in a slalom race and it was nearly impossible to keep warm. Unfortunately, these temperatures are just too cold for Quincy. We cannot keep her safe and warm and it’s simply not fun for her to ski. So, we will take a break for a few days and hope it warms up soon.
But, this is a great opportunity to show you some images of the bi-ski that we use. This first photo is the ski with wheels that are used for transport. The wheels allow us to move it around without scratching up the skis.
This next photo is the ski with the outriggers in place of the wheels which is how it is used on the mountain. The outriggers allow for balance as the ski arcs a turn.
My plan was to follow up these photos with some images of Rob tethering Quincy down the mountain, but I obviously didn’t anticipate the weather conditions. Next time we are out, I promise to take some photos.
This last one is Quincy just before we headed out for our last awesome day of skiing…
By the time she is all bundled up and strapped in she will be impatient to get outside and start skiing. But, it’s important to take the time to gear up properly, both for warmth and safety, and Quincy has learned to be patient.
Great mittens for the developmentally and physically disabled!!
If you have ever tried to push someone else’s hands into a pair of mittens you know just how difficult that task can be. Children with disabilities often hold their hands a certain way that isn’t always conducive to sliding into a glove or mitten. They may also be somewhat uncooperative during the process. It can be as aggravating for the caregiver as it must be for the person.
We have tried a million different ways to keep Quincy’s hands warm in the winter. For quick trips outside my best option has been to simply slide a pair of fleece socks over hands. I still have to take care of all her little fingers, but at least socks are stretchy and soft and I don’t have any finger or thumb holes to fight with. However, if she is outside for any extended period of time, like when we go skiing, socks simply aren’t warm enough.
We have purchased super over-sized mittens and cut the cuffs but we find that if something is too easy to put on then it is too easy for her to throw off. We have tried socks over her hands and then trying to slide them into mittens but that can be incredibly bulky.
Finally, a solution from my favorite company! Check out these thumbless mittens with zippered cuffs from Adaptations by Adrian:
These are so great….they are really warm and soft inside, but have a waterproof exterior. The zippered cuffs allow them to be snug on the sleeve so Quincy can’t throw them off. But, best of all, I can just lay Quincy’s hand in the mitten and zip it up! No more pushing hands into little mitten holes! So, thanks again to Adrian for another great product! Keep ‘em coming!!!
To be effective, caregivers must build and protect a relationship of trust
I have a great deal of respect for anyone who chooses to focus their career on working with the disabled…it is rarely something anyone does for the high salary or the glamour. For the most part folks who work with the developmentally disabled have big hearts and genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others. However, all the good intentions in the world will not replace proper training.
Proper training isn’t just about the use of adaptive equipment, medical equipment, or administering meds, but must also include disability awareness and sensitivity. I have noticed that often this seems to be lacking. Caregivers, be it therapists, teachers, personal care attendants or even therapeutic recreation instructors must create trust with those that they are working with…they must create trust and they must protect that trust. Children who cannot communicate or use their bodies to protect themselves or control themselves must feel completely safe in the hands of those they rely on. If you betray that trust you will have broken a bond that may never be repaired.
I have seen Quincy shut down on people quicker than you can flip a light switch. As soon as she is put in a situation that scares her or hurts her she is simply finished. More than once over the years we have had to replace therapists because we know all too well that once Quincy doesn’t trust someone she simply will not work for them.
Last week an adaptive ski instructor took a young client down a particularly difficult run at our ski resort and dumped him. The instructor’s general attitude was that of a typical, healthy young man…no pain, no gain. It’s not fun if you don’t push the envelope. I wonder if that instructor has ever strapped himself into a bi-ski, strapped down his arms so he couldn’t use them, put himself entirely at the mercy of some hot-shot instructor who thought it would be cool to jump into a black diamond run and possibly dump him? I doubt it.
The developmentally disabled process experiences differently than the rest of us. Their trust is built differently, their fear is felt differently, and their ability to recover from something frightening is different. You must understand that trust is everything and it should not be taken lightly…it must be protected and respected.
Rob and I have never, ever had an accident with Quincy in the bi-ski and I truly doubt we ever will. We are too well-trained, too cautious, too overly-protective and, most importantly, we absolutely understand that if we scare her we may never get her back on the mountain again and that would be heartbreaking for all of us.
Adaptive skiing and therapeutic recreation
Over the Thanksgiving holiday we skied with Quincy. It was so much fun! Our local mountain got nearly 20″ of powder every night of the four-day holiday. It was skiers paradise and a perfect way to kick off the season!
My husband and I have been trained on how to use a bi-ski and that is what we use with Q. Rob has his Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Level 1 adaptive certification, so he really does know what he’s doing. The bi-ski (also called a sit-ski) is a device that has a bucket seat attached to two skis with two shorter outrigger skis on the back to keep it balanced. It is operated by a very skilled skier who holds two tether lines and by using those lines can make the ski carve turns to either the right or left.
My role is to assist loading the bi-ski onto the chair lift and then to shadow Rob and Quincy, blocking any stray snowboarder or novice skier who may wander into their path. A collision with another skier is just one of the many hazards we must avoid. Rough, tracked-out conditions can create a bumpy ride and just like with any skier if the bi-ski catches an edge it can tip. It can tip going too slow, it can tip going too fast. I am quite proud to say that we have never, ever dumped Quincy. And that is incredibly important. She places full trust in our abilities and if we fail her it will be very difficult to earn it back. When we trained on the bi-ski we started by using sandbags instead of a child…we dumped plenty of sandbags. Then, we practiced on able-bodied people…it’s always good to experience the equipment first hand so you have a clear understanding of what the ride is like, what is scary, what is fun, etc… We finally began with Q and we’ve been skiing with her on our own for nearly three seasons with a perfect safety record. It’s not to say that Rob and I haven’t suffered through plenty of bumps and bruises…but we suffer them happily for Q. There is no more perfect freedom that being completely independent on the mountain…cruising where we want when we want without anyone’s assistance.
If you ever have the opportunity to volunteer at any therapeutic recreation program, be it skiing or swimming or anything, please try it. There is no better reward than the smile on the face of a child who experiences something they have never done before.
Adaptive skiing Alaska
It’s time to start what I expect will be one of many posts about an activity that has brought great joy and fun to my family…adaptive alpine skiing. Every day I check the webcams at Alyeska ski resort and count down the days until Nov. 26…opening weekend!! Alaskans are unique…we live in a place of brutal winters and yet we simply love winter. And, what’s more, we love to play outside in the winter. Rob has been a downhill skier since he was a kid and I’ve learned to love it once I started living with him, so our children didn’t stand a chance. Unfortunately, when we realized that Quincy would probably never develop the ability to walk we thought we would have to give up skiing. But, lucky for us Alaska happens to have one of the finest on-mountain adaptive ski programs in the country. Challenge Alaska ski school changed our lives. We were able to use the facility to learn about the equipment and skills necessary to take Quincy skiing. We’ve been part of the Challenge family for at least seven years…first as clients and eventually on our own. We purchased Quincy her own bi-ski and spent hours on the mountain being trained on how to safely use it. Rob has earned his Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Level I Adaptive certificate and will soon be Level II. On the mountain we have complete freedom…this little family of mine can ski all day long without any one’s help or assistance. Of course, my other children learned to ski about the same time they learned to walk and they have incredible talent. Both of my children are members of the local ski team and spend their weekends honing their racing and free skiing skills. So, every weekend once the mountain opens you know where to find us…tearing up the slopes at Alyeska. Rob, Quincy and I aren’t hard to spot…we are the ones with the bi-ski and the huge smiles on our faces!!
Categories
Recent Posts
- The fear and reality of losing a disabled child to their disability
- Photos of an adaptive bi-ski in action in Alaska at -5!
- What does a bi-ski used by a disabled skier look like?
- Be compassionate and communciate effectively and make the most of the holidays with the developmentally disabled
- Great mittens for the developmentally and physically disabled!!
Blogroll
del.icio.us
- No bookmarks avaliable.