Equipment
Many students will ski with standard equipment, i.e., skiis and poles. Such students would include blind and developmentally delayed. LASP uses many devices to assist in keeping ski tips from crossing and we have means to tether a stand-up student in order to control speed, turning and stopping while the student is learning. Amputees will use a standard ski with outrigger poles, which are crutch-type devices with a small ski on the end. Some students with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or spina bifida are able to use 2 skis with 2 outriggers.
With certain disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and brain injuries, the student may have to ski in a sitting position. For these students, we use bi-skis and mono-skis. A bi-ski is a fiberglass bucket seat mounted on an alloy frame with 2 shaped skis on the bottom. The skis are articulated so that the body motion of the skier from side to side puts the skis on edge, therefore easily initiating a turn. The student can use outriggers, either hand held, if they are capable, or fixed if they are not. Bi-skiers are tethered until they can turn, control their speed and stop independently.
The mono-ski differs from the bi-ski in that it has only one standard ski beneath the frame, not two. Mono-skiing requires excellent balance and good upper body strength. An accomplished mono-skier can ski totally independent. He/she can load and unload chair lift and ski without being tethered. This is the ultimate achievement for sit-down skiers.
