General EquipmentAs 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.