Thank you to Lindsay Schultz for contributing information to this article.
Pipelines, shredding, jibbers, and boardercross are all part of the colorful trappings of what’s attracting winter sports lovers to the country’s newest and most popular pursuit of things-that-go-bump-in-the-snow. Otherwise known as snowboarding…..
Originally embraced by preteen and adolescent males who adapted ocean surfing and the fracture-prone sport of skate boarding to the more forgiving environs of powdered slopes, snowboarding has taken off wildly coast to coast. Though skiing, its more patrician Great Uncle, still rules, snowboarding — by its sheer exuberance and invitation to daring antics — is increasingly drawing new fans.
Some say the sport originated in Michigan in the mid-1960s when a dad joined two skis so his daughter could “surf” down a snow-covered hillside. Board 
designs evolved over the next two decades until adherents had spread across the country — often banned from ski resorts because of the excessive ‘enthusiasm’ displayed by its greatest fans, male teenagers. But snowboarding grew despite, or perhaps because of, its “bad boy” image. By the year 2000, a study on sports participation called it the country’s fastest growing recreation, followed by skateboarding. The study noted a 51.2% increase in participants from the previous year to a total of slightly more than 7.2 million advocates. In that same period, responses indicated, downhill skiers increased by only 6%, for a sum of 14.7 million enthusiasts.
“We’ve seen lots of growth in the past 10 to 15 years, with more organized classes and competitions on the East and West coasts,” noted veteran adaptive snow sports instructor Bobby Palm. “But more and more adaptive programs are including snowboarding, so our new PSIA-Rocky Mountain snowboard teaching guide is really timely. In essence, what we’re telling instructors is that anything goes in getting people of all ages into the fun of snowboarding as long as safety is the prime consideration!” he added.
Who Can Do It?
“Individuals with mobility impairments often see gravity as a daily obstacle, but with these sports [skiing and snowboarding], gravity truly works in our favor,” said Tim Kroes, Executive Director of the Adaptive Sports Association in Durango, Colo.
In his experience, many people with disabilities struggle to find a true sense of freedom and independence. “The feel of adrenaline and wind in your face draws many participants. After adaptations are made with equipment or technique, the playing field is leveled with able-bodied 
skiers and boarders,” Kroes said. “These sports allow easy access to fresh air and spectacular mountain scenery.”
Diane Barras, certified OT, member of the U.S. Paralympics Alpine Ski Team, and Program Coordinator for Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation, has heard a few people say snowboarding accommodates their specific disability better than skiing, or that snowboarding puts them at less risk of injury. “It’s more about personal preference,” she said. “The preference for snowboarding doesn’t seem to be limited to a particular age, gender, or other demographics, either.”
“It’s no harder than learning other winter sports. It just takes some time, patience, and desire,” Barras said. “As with everyone learning to snowboard, you will probably spend some time on the snow.”
Travis Thiele, National Ability Center Snowboard Team Manager, said that gravity doesn’t discriminate. “Everyone can go downhill!” In particular, people with body asymmetry are good candidates for adaptive snowboarding, including cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, amputations, visual impairments, and spinal cord injuries.
“It’s no harder than learning other winter sports. It just takes some time, patience, and desire,” Barras said. “As with everyone learning to snowboard, you will probably spend some time on the snow.”
From gentle slopes to the most advanced, adaptive snowboarders have the potential to take on any hill they choose—if they can put in the practice time to get there. Thiele has athletes doing green, blue, black and double blacks, powder runs, tree runs, mogul runs, the park, boardercross, halfpipe, and slopestyle. Gale has riders who are very successful in halfpipe, slopestyle, boardercross, and even on steep offpiste or backcountry terrain.
Can’t find a chapter near you? Check out the list of Paralympic Sport Clubs to see which ones offer snowboarding!
As with any adaptive sport, equipment may either be rented or purchased, depending on the supply carried at the site where lessons are held. It’s always best to inquire in advance as to what is available when arrangements are being made for lessons.
Boots
Designed to support the foot and keep the heel down, snowboard boots should fit snugly but not be too tight since movement generated by the body is transferred to the board via the boots. The ideal boot flexes to the degree the rider wishes; it should be comfortable and functional. If avoiding pressure areas or accommodating an AFO are concerns, the rider may need each boot in a different size.
The next choice is soft or hard boot. Softer styles deliver greater ankle flexibility and freedom of movement, while a stiffer boot offers increased ankle and foot support. Hard shell boots, similar to an alpine ski boot, aren’t as readily found, are harder to fit, and don’t prove as versatile in variable terrain or snow conditions since ankle movement is more restricted.
Bindings
All snowboard bindings prevent release of the board for safety considerations. While some bindings must be paired with a particular boot, most are easily adjusted to accept a change in stance. And board responsiveness is directly related to how snugly the foot fits the boot, plus how much “wiggle” exists between the boot and binding. As students advance in skill, adjustments may be made for increased control.
Binding choices range from strap — the most popular — to step-in, which is boot-specific, and plate, which is designed for hard or alpine boots.
Snowboard
In general, snowboards are chosen on the basis of the rider’s height, weight, and ability level, with the upright board’s length usually between the rider’s chin and nose. While designs are similar, details separate choices into three styles — freestyle, freeriding, and alpine/race boards.
A freestyle board, also known as a twin tip, has an equally turned up tip and tail, and a soft flex. Extremely versatile, it can easily be ridden in either direction and is a good choice for beginners.
The freeriding or directional board is slightly stiffer and performs differently when going forward or backward. There is more stability when going forward, but the board also adapts well to different riding styles, types of terrain, and stance options.
Stiffer and less forgiving for the inexperienced rider, the alpine board has a more upturned nose than tail and a narrower mid-section. It is highly responsive and cuts or “carves” deeply through gates and when riding in groomed terrain, but is less versatile in varied terrain and snow conditions.
Helmet
As with any extreme sport that could cause a head injury, you should always wear a helmet.
Adaptations
Sit Snowboarding
Similar to sit skiing, sit snowboarding can be done on a mono-board. Sit snowboarding has been around for many years according to Daniel Gale, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Adaptive Action Sports. “One of the true pioneers of sit snowboarding is Jesse Horn,” he said. “These devices are extremely versatile in deep powder snow.” He pointed out, though, that this version of the sport won’t be included in the Paralympics.
Thiele knows of several different ways to sit snowboard. “Hand On Concepts has built boards and bindings modeled after our own prototypes that allow a mono to be put on a board,” he said. “There are various teams throughout the world building prototypes of similar devices for sit snowboarding.”
Prosthesis
Gale said that for amputees, a general-use athletic leg and foot combo (not a running leg) is best.
“Robotic legs are more difficult to setup and use on the snow.” Look for average return and stiffness in the leg. “You do not want a foot that is too soft or stiff in the toe,” he said. “Although you do want some shock absorption, having too much return or stiffness would result in getting tossed around and having a limited amount of edge response on the snowboard. For a quicker reaction and response time, we recommend to our experienced below knee amputee riders a foot and leg combo with medium stiffness and no extra shock.”
Gale qualified that each experience is unique to the rider, and your trainer should take special care to tailor the experience for you individually. An above knee amputee, for example, would absolutely benefit from additional shock.
Thiele pointed out that in addition to a strong, durable foot with some inline, vertical shock absorption, a new snowboarder also might use tethers or outriggers for learning. No other specialized equipment is necessary. “Any competent adaptive snowboard instructor should be able to allay the client’s fears by having tethers at their disposal and absolute confidence in their ability to use them,” he said.
Ski Poles and Bamboo Pole
Used by independent riders, ski poles can assist static balance, propulsion along a flat surface, or help initiate a turn; a nordic style bamboo pole helps with turning and slowing down.
Horse ‘n’ Buggy, Hula Hoop™, and Ski-Pal™
Devices such as the horse ‘n’ buggy, Hula Hoop™, and Ski-Pal™ let an instructor assist with balance and initiating turns while avoiding direct hands-on teaching. All involve tubing around the student’s waist which is attached to long poles held by the instructor. The horse ‘n’ buggy system is more snug, letting the teacher initiate turns as well as control speed, while the Hula Hoop™ offers the student some stability but is too loose to control turns. The Ski-Pal™ operates like a Hula Hoop™, but uses a rectangular configuration instead of a round hoop.
Outriggers
Another option is one or two outriggers. Canadian-style crutches with a ski tip at the end, they aid balance and lessen fatigue, and some are shock-absorbing. Students with weakness in the lower body may benefit from a rider bar, an upside down, waist-high U-shaped bar mounted under the bindings. Riders can stabilize the upper body by holding on — pushing it forward to move to the toe edge, and backward to move to the heel edge.
Tethering
Tethering, an option used for many students, helps the instructor control speed and direction as well as initiate turns. The tether is attached to the front of the board rather than the student, its placement depending on many variables.
Tandem Boards
A tandem board has two sets of bindings to accommodate both student and instructor. It was developed in Europe and used for instructing students with impaired vision, but it’s a valuable tool for working with beginners with many types of impairments. The tandem lets students experience the fun of dynamic riding without worrying about controlling the board.
The Professional Ski Instructors of America and Adaptive Association of Snowboard Instructors’ Adaptive Snowboarding Guide provides a full list of adaptations that can be used when snowboarding.
Adaptive Snowboarding Equipment Suppliers
Experts urge anyone with a disability to choose an instructor who’s certified in adaptive snowboarding. “Adaptive instructors are trained to notice small details in a snowboarder’s stance or technique due to their individual disability that may be affecting their overall performance, and how to correct those details to improve the end result and experience,” Gale said.
According to Thiele, the difference between an able-bodied instructor and one trained in adaptive snowboarding is specialty knowledge of prosthetics, modifications, boots and bindings, revised teaching techniques and drills, and the presence of “other disabled riders as resources and encouragement to see that it can be done.” He noted that improper setup of the bindings is perhaps the most common mistake of novice snowboard instructors.
Added Barras: “Having someone that fully understands the aspects and demands of snowboarding, along with the available modifications for different physical needs, may make the difference between carving turns and sitting in the snow all day.”
The First Lesson
Kroes explained the steps taken by a new adaptive snowboarding student during the first lesson at the
Durango Mountain Resort. “We focus on a very personal, relaxed, lowstress atmosphere,” he said.
• Complete a student intake form with details about the disability, activity level, medications, etc.
• Meet the private instructor and one of the program directors.
• Discuss personal goals, physical abilities, concerns, etc.
• Be fitted with equipment and a helmet, borrow any necessary cold weather gear, and move outside to the beginner terrain.
• Get comfortable with the equipment, flat terrain movement, and concepts of the sport.
• Move to a beginner chairlift on easy terrain.
• At any point throughout the lesson, make any necessary adjustments or modifications to the equipment.
• Take warm-up breaks and eat a meal when the student chooses.
Gale stressed that beginner lessons at Adaptive Action Sports are completely tailored to the individual. “Our instructors are trained to move at your speed and pace, applying just enough pressure to keep you progressing,” he said. “The experience is exciting, fulfilling, and oftentimes life-changing.”
Stance
A major decision is the choice of stance, how the feet are positioned on the snowboard. Stance involves the angle of feet to the board’s edge, the distance between the feet, and which foot is deemed in the lead. For best results, a stance should be comfortable and place balance equally over both feet. An aligned stance helps maintain stability while riding; a directional or race stance lets the student effectively use two outriggers; a duck stance points one foot forward and the other to the rear, keeping muscles relaxed; and the open stance, with each foot set at a different degree, is appropriate for beginners to intermediate riders.
Choice of a stance should relate to the student’s balance, or how far the body can move without losing stability. Retaining balance is accomplished by adjustments to the ankles, knees, hips, and entire body; consideration is also given as to whether the student uses the ankle or knee as the primary flexing joint.
You took the lessons, you conquered the beginner slopes and beyond, and you’re sore in places you didn’t know could get sore. Each time you set your boots to the board and let loose into the snow, that initial feeling comes back stronger— exhilaration, tension, satisfaction, and liberation. It’s a combination that pulls you to the mountain again and again.
In fact, you enjoy it so much that you start to wonder…what if? What if you tested your boundaries, learned more, and practiced harder? Could you experience the thrill of competition?
Full-time training programs and camps for adaptive snowboard competition are established or starting up in locations all over the country. The first step, Gale cautioned, is to seek out proper coaching. He said, “A big mistake instructors versus coaches might make is bringing inexperienced riders to competition when they are not ready—opening them up to injury.” He urged snowboarders to get professional insight from trained and experienced coaches before attempting to compete.
“Oftentimes within the first few hours of being on a board, an individual can tell if it’s a new passion or something they enjoyed only trying the one time,” he said. “If they love the sport like we do, we’ll invite them to participate in one of our intermediate camp that has a competition component. After additional training they would be given the opportunity to test their skills against other intermediate adaptive snowboarders.”
Next, if they want to continue to improve their skills and compete, they’ll be invited to participate in additional race development programs. He said, “Over the course of a year or two, they would be introduced to and encouraged to attend the full schedule of competitions to gain more experience.” Then if they prove successful in competition, they’ll be invited to train with the Elite Team and coaches of Adaptive Action Sports.
Adding that race boards and gear are very specific to competitive snowboarding, Gale said, “Like any sport, the more skilled you become the more crucial it is to have high performance gear that can keep up.”
“The sport is being recreated from scratch as we speak,” said Kevin Jardine about para-snowboarding, the name given to the competitive sport, which first appeared in the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Jardine is the U.S. Olympic Committee’s High Performance Director of Paralympic Alpine Skiing.
The surprise announcement on May 2, 2012, that para-snowboarding would be a Paralympic medal sport with men’s and women’s standing
events, meant many adaptive snowboarders finally would have a chance to realize their dreams.
The announcement made history, and took a great deal of work to initiate. Support for the sport grew to include everyone from passionate adaptive snowboarders to gold-medal Olympians, and efforts included everything from a Change.org petition drive to an aggressive video titled “Dear Sochi” by Fiat Lux Productions LLC.
Information about qualifying for the Paralympics can be found on Team USA’s website.
Information about Paralympic events and competitions can be found on the Para Snowboard Calendar.
Paralympic Disciplines
Three disciplines exist in para snowboarding: snowboard-cross, banked slalom, and giant slalom; however, only snowboard-cross and banked slalom appear in the Paralympic Games.
Snowboard-Cross
Athletes race on a course with terrain that includes banks, berms, rollers, spines, jumps, wu-tang, etc. To qualify, each athlete completes two runs down the course with their best run determining the final order based on ascending time. Finals consist of 16 men and 8 women, with 2 competitors per heat or such other numbers as determined by the Jury. The first placed competitor from each heat advances from round to round. Any one of the two athletes whose body or snowboard crosses the finish line wins the race.
Banked Slalom
Competitors race on a course with banked turns, bumps, dips, and a U-shaped, natural valley. All competitors take three timed runs. The best timed run out of three timed runs determines the final results.
Giant Slalom
Competitors complete two runs down the course with the combined time determining the final order. The general characteristics and terrain of the course include a medium pitched slope, preferably with various grades and groomed, compacted snow.
World Para Snowboard’s website provides a great deal of information about the history of para snowboard and the various disciplines.
Classification
There are currently three classes for para snowboard.
Sport class SB-LL1: Athletes will have an significant impairment in one leg, for example an above knee amputation, or a significant combined impairment in two legs, for example significant muscle weakness or spasticity in both legs.
Sport class SB-LL2: Athletes will have an impairment in one or two legs with less activity limitation, such as a below knee amputation.
Sport Class SB-UL: Athletes will have an impairment to their upper limbs.
PyeongChang 2018
The upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games will increase from 2 to 10 medal events for para snpwboard, which includes 6 for men and 4 for women. Seventy male athletes and 36 female athletes will be present at the Games.
International Governing Body- World Para Snowboard
Adaptive Snowsports Instruction Manual- PSIA-AASI
Adaptive Snowboard Guide- PSIA-AASI
How to Become a Certified Adaptive Snowboard Instructor- PSIA-AASI
Also, check out the article on adaptive snowboarding in the winter 2017 issue of Challenge magazine:
