Making the grade in Alpine Skiing

Alpine skiing is one of the most exciting and challenging sport there is. Made all the more challenging in a country that has few places with enough snow.

Snowsport GB put it better than we can:

“Let’s think about this? Can you imagine running at over 80kph; Blind, a leg amputee, paralysed from chest down….? There is nothing ‘Disabled’ about these athletes. The only difference is the use of ‘Adaptive’ equipment depending on the needs of each individual, for example:

Blind skiers race with a guide. The racers follow in the tracks of the guides through the course, who are constantly screaming instructions to his/her athlete when to turn, whilst the athlete homes in on where the sound is coming from. To aid the guide to be heard, he uses a special microphone attached to a voice box on his back. A sight to behold…!

Leg amputees can either Ski on two Skis using a prosthetic limb (where possible or desired) or race on one limb using long outriggers (crutches with skis on the end) to aid balance. These 3 trackers, are some of the fastest Skiers in the adaptive world!

Other athletes unable to ski standing up use a seated ski (primarily people with spinal cord damage - paralysed). This high tech piece of equipment is called a ‘mono ski’ and as the name implies is attached to a single race ski. The various ‘mono ski’ frame designs incorporate a boot fitting, which allows the frame to attach to a normal high din binding and ski. The frames carry a serious suspension system with lots of adjustment to act as legs and cushion impact over rough terrain or landing air. On top of the frame sits a bucket seat that holds the athlete very tight and aids balance. Short Outriggers are used to help the athlete push around, used to aid balance when skiing and initiate turns like a pole plant.

These are just a few examples of the various athletes that compete in the Adaptive Ski World. A place where anything is possible……….!”

Adaptive racers run on the same courses as their able bodied counterparts and take part in the same disciplines (Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom & Slalom). Racers are classified into categories depending on their disability - Standing, Seated & Blind. These three are then broken down further into a number of other classifications depending on the severity and nature of the disability. A complicated ‘Factor system’ has been introduced, which allows all disabilities, categories and classifications to race against each other for an overall position.

The British Team is currently administered by Disability Snowsport UK. DSUK are a large charitable organisation whose roots go back 30 years, organising activities and ski trips for people with disabilities. They have great hopes for the British Adaptive Ski Team members and are currently helping professionalize the setup and the running of the Team.