Adaptive

This list is not complete. Work in progress. There are Offsite Adaptive Programs that will go to other resorts. example.. Taos Adaptive Program. See Links section of this page.

After a friend and my sister in law called our attention to the article about snow bikes in the Sunday Inquirer, my wife and I read it on line here in Montana at Big Sky Ski Resort. We want to mention that it's added years of skiing for skiers who've had to give up skiing because of back problems or other conditions that affect one's ability to stand for a period of time. My wife suffers from degenerative disk disease, including scoliosis resulting from two compressed vertebrae. For mobility, she uses a walker and canes for support. We've been skiing for 18 years, and the last couple of years after her retirement from teaching, skiing has been increasingly difficult, to the point that it looked like she might have to give up skiing soon. 

Last winter at Telluride and Durango the adaptive staff at both places introduced her to the ski-bike as a possible solution. It was so great that she bought her own through the help of the Director of the Adaptive Program at Vail. The handle bars of the snow bike provides support like her walker, with the foot skis used for turning and braking. For both of us, this ski bike is a miracle, and is going to add years to our skiing life, as she biked this winter at Copper Mountain, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek, and Breckenridge, in Colorado, and Heavenly Valley at Tahoe in Calif. With special permission from the lift managements and/or adaptive ski offices, she snow-biked at the following ski resorts: Steamboat Springs, Colo., Snowbird in Utah, and Mammoth Lakes and Squaw Valley, Calif. After spending the week at Big Sky, we will be at Jackson Hole, Wyo., where she again obtained permission to use the ski-bike as an adaptive device in accordance with the Americans for Disabilities Act.

At those ski resorts that do not normally allow ski-bikes, a member of the staff from the ski patrol accompanies both of us for a few runs to ensure that she can ski-bike safely and handle the lifts. Because of her back, she is unable to lift or carry the bike. So I as her buddy carry the bike to the lift and hold it while she uses my ski poles for support and the foot skis to get on and off the lift like other skiers. Upon dismounting the lift, I set up the bike and she skies over to it and takes off.

So far all the resorts that do not permit ski-bikes have been pretty accommodating in giving her the opportunity to ski-bike at their resorts, sometimes after a little pressure. For adaptive skiers who wish to ski-bike at a resort that does not allow ski-bikes, it is recommended that they contact the lift management operators or head of the adaptive ski office to request permission to use the ski bike as an adaptive equipment. Explain that the ADA requires such reasonable accommodations. We even had our lawyer draft a letter explaining this for those who were more reluctant.

In closing, we want to recognize the wonderful staff of those ski resorts that don't normally allow ski-bikes for giving Carolyn the opportunity to enjoy their mountains. We also appreciate the time and patience the Adaptive Program staffs of Telluride and Durango took in introducing us to this wonderful piece of equipment that will enhance our retirement for years to come. 

I have been an on-and-off skier for the past 15 years, but because of quadricep weakness I have never progressed beyond the beginner level. While skiing at Vail three years ago, I contacted the Adaptive Ski School and met with the director Ruth Demuth. Thanks to her advice I began skiing with CADS (CADS.com). CADS greatly increased my endurance and allowed my skiing ability to advance, but I still found intermediate terrain to be difficult.

I became interested in ski-bikes when the Vail Adaptive Ski School notified me that they would be allowed for use as adaptive equipment. This change in Vail’s policy is due in large part to the efforts of Jeff Cain (adaptive ski-biker).

 
My first stop was the ASA web site which is a great asset to the ski-bike community. After discussing ski-bikes and my physical limitations with Rod Ratzlaff, Jeff Cain, Ruth Demuth, and Luke Van Maldeghem, I ordered a K2 SMX ski-bike. Luke had successfully modified an SMX for the Vail Adaptive program to allow the rider to stay seated on the bike while the chair-lift moved under the ski-bike’s seat and picked up the bike and rider together. This method of lift-loading interested me because off-loading at the top would be easier if I did not have to stand up from the low seating position of a chair-lift. 

With a few suggestions from Luke and a lot of trial and error, I fabricated a new seat bracket and shock bracket for the K2 ski-bike that moved the shock forward and raised the seat. This created enough length under the seat (16") for the chair lift to carry the bike.

To ensure a good beginning to my ski-bike endeavor in February 2004 at Vail, CO, I decided to start with a few lessons. The first day was challenging, but by the end of the second day I was ski-biking easily down hills that had previously been difficult on skis. Lift-loading worked very well (after the first try) and with practice became easy. I was fortunate to have an excellent instructor, Justin Carter APSI with the Vail/Beaver Creek Ski School. Thanks to his instruction and assistance, I really enjoyed learning to ski-bike. I also met Jeff Cain at Vail for a great day of ski-biking. The opportunity to ride with an experienced adaptive ski-biker was invaluable.

As my riding ability and speed increased, I became interested in trying a ski-bike with a front and rear suspension. I contacted Don Koski, who was kind enough to arrange a demo of the Koski Monotrac at Buttermilk (Aspen). I was very impressed with the Koski ski-bike, especially its suspension design. I have since ordered a Koski Monotrac and plan to change the seat position so the ski-bike can ride directly on the chair lift.

Buttermilk provided another excellent ski-bike experience. Hans Hohle (the director of Operations and also a ski-biker) was very helpful as was instructor Jeremy Mirefield. Buttermilk allows ski-bikes on the main lift (with or without foot skis). They also have ski-bikes for rent. I had a great time at Buttermilk and am planning to return there for a ski-biking trip.

I was unable to attend this year’s festival at Durango. I plan to be there next year with both bikes if anyone wants to check out my modifications. I want to thank everyone who helped me get started in this wonderful sport, and I encourage anyone who is interested to try it.