TPS Archives

Reprints From The Professional Skier

Spring 1994 - "'Adaptive Skiing': a Redundancy?" by Don Schwartz

This article is reprinted from The Professional Skier. All copyrights apply. Please see our copyright and disclaimer notice page.

Many of us distinguish adaptive skiing from "regular" skiing by the former's "use of special equipment." After 10-plus years of teaching adaptive skiing and running a ski school for adaptive skiers, I can't really accept that distinction. I would like to propose an alternative perspective, one that may be more helpful in teaching in adaptive situations.

First, in terms of this discussion, let's define the act of skiing (for anyone) as the interaction of the following basic elements:

1. Constants - the following elements of skiing that every skier must deal with: terrain, snow conditions, weather, and all of the physical laws of nature (e.g., gravity)

2. Skills - balancing movements, rotary movements, pressure-control movements, and edge-control movements

3. Variables - individual body mechanics and equipment

In considering the complexity of these basic elements, does it really make sense to describe any type of skiing, even adaptive, as characterized by one component (i.e., the equipment)?

Let's face it, strapping on long, slippery boards and riding them down snow-covered mountains is not exactly a natural human act. Skiing is an exercise in adapting for everyone. So in a sense, the term "adaptive skiing" is broad enough to cover all skiing.

Skiing generally isn't defined in terms of the equipment. No one thinks, "I really hammered those bumps because of my K2s." They think, "I really hammered those bumps, and it felt great."

Every individual operates in the realm of the "normal," and that realm is specific to each individual. Among the factors that determine an individual's normality are body mechanics and equipment. No two skiers ski exactly the same, because their variables make them different. Some differences are just more obvious than others.

I believe it isn't any more accurate to describe adaptive skiing as equipment oriented as it would be to describe normal skiing that way.

"Adaptive" skiers use different equipment to compensate for differences in physical function. This equipment lets these skiers attend to the same "constants" as all other skiers.

Many types of "adaptive" equipment are discarded once the skier's skills improve and the skier's potential is realized. In such instances, the equipment provides a temporary mechanical linkage for integrating the variables, skills, and constants.

Whether a skier sits down, stands on one leg or two, is visually impaired, or uses some type of modified equipment doesn't really matter. The essence of teaching adaptive skiing is not found in equipment, but in tailoring the curriculum to, and establishing the focus on, the adaptive skier's particular situation. Teaching adaptive skiing, like teaching any other skiing, requires instructors to use their skills, knowledge, and experience to adapt to the functional needs of the student.

Don Schwartz is director of Alpine Experience, Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes adaptive ski programs. He also is director of adaptive and beginner ski programs at Swain Ski Center in New York. Schwartz is certified in adaptive skiing and associate certified in alpine skiing.