Mono-Skiing - Instructional progressions are used for those individuals
(a) who use a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility, (b) who have
strong upper extremities and good torso/trunk balance, and/or (c) who
switch or split scheduled skiing time in the mono-ski because they may or
may not be able to ski for prolonged periods of time standing up(ie. low
level paraplegics/MS). The mono-ski is state-of-the-art technology - it
consists of fiberglass, plastic or carbon fiber seat/bucket/boot that the
skier sits in. The seat, with restraining straps for the torso and legs,
is attached to a full length ski with a high load adjustable shock
absorber. The Mono-skier sits in the ski and uses two short handheld
outriggers (forearm crutches with skis attached at the base of the crutch). Control is achieved by carving the ski and using the outriggers
for balance as well as helping to achieve desired dynamic skiing movements
. Persons who ski in the Mono-ski begin the progression having an
instructor skiing behind the ski - with a tether strap (nylon safety cord)
attached to the back of the Mono-ski.
A partial list of those who would
use Mono-ski methods includes: persons with lower extremity amputations,
spinal cord injury (paraplegic), spina bifida, friedericks ataxia, etc.
Mono-Skiing - Instructional progressions are used for those individuals
(a) who use a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility, (b) who have
strong upper extremities and good torso/trunk balance, and/or (c) who
switch or split scheduled skiing time in the mono-ski because they may or
may not be able to ski for prolonged periods of time standing up(ie. low
level paraplegics/MS). The mono-ski is state-of-the-art technology - it
consists of fiberglass, plastic or carbon fiber seat/bucket/boot that the
skier sits in. The seat, with restraining straps for the torso and legs,
is attached to a full length ski with a high load adjustable shock
absorber. The Mono-skier sits in the ski and uses two short handheld
outriggers (forearm crutches 
with skis attached at the base of the crutch). Control is achieved by carving the ski and using the outriggers
for balance as well as helping to achieve desired dynamic skiing movements
. Persons who ski in the Mono-ski begin the progression having an
instructor skiing behind the ski - with a tether strap (nylon safety cord)
attached to the back of the Mono-ski.
