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Program Details

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Activities Offered
  • Snow Skiing
Building Access
  • Meets ADA standards

Staff Training and Certification
  • Staff Training: PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America)-certified instructors
  • Staff Certification:A degree in an applicable area (i.e., Kinesiology, Adapted Physical Education, Therapeutic Recreation), Physical Therapist or PT Assistant, Occupational Therapist or OT Assistant, Professional Ski Instructors of America

Adaptive Equipment
  • Adaptive equipment available
    Adaptive ski equipment. Please refer to Notes section for more details.

Membership Fees
  • Fee to participate in the Program :

Transportation
  • Accessible by Public Transportation: Yes

  • Transportation Provided by the Program: No

Notes

The Tahoe Adaptive Ski School, located at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, at Lake Tahoe, Northern California provides ski and snowboard lessons to hundreds of students of all abilities each winter. Our PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) certified instructors and trained volunteers make skiing or snowboarding possible for anyone with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.

Each lesson includes:
  • 2 1/2 hours of private instruction
  • Adaptive ski equipment
  • Lift ticket for beginner ski runs

Adaptive Ski Equipment used at the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School:

Two-track skiers: Two-track skiers use two skis and ski with or without poles. Upper extremity amputees, below-the-knee amputees, and people who have had a stroke or head trauma are often two-trackers.

Four-track skiers: Four-track skiers use two skis and two outriggers. A four-tracker has partial impairment in the extremities - caused by cerebral palsy, multiple scelerosis, spina bifida, or double amputation - and the ability to balance in a standing position with outriggers.

Three-track skiers: Three-track skiers use one ski and two outriggers, which are forearm crutches with ski tips attached to the bottom for three points of contact. A three-tracker typically has only one functioning leg, as a result of amputation, polio or other condition.

Mono-skiers and Bi-skiers: Mono-skiers and bi-skiers ski in a sitting position. The mono-skier sits above one ski, uses two outriggers for balance, and has good upper body strength. The mono ski is designed for low-level paraplegics and others without the use of their legs. Turning occurs through body and arm motion. High-level paraplegics, quadriplegics, and persons with severe impairments use the bi-ski, which requires less reliance on upper body strength, balance, and trunk motion than the mono-ski. The bi-ski is a fiberglass shell seat mounted on two skis.