• Snow Skiing

• Adaptive equipment available
  Three Track Skis, Four Track Skis, Mono-Skis, Bi-Skis

• Accessible by Public Transportation: No
  
  
• Transportation Provided by the Program: No

Holiday Valley's Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program, a chapter of Disabled Sports/USA, teaches persons with various disabilities to become skiers and to attain a degree of fitness previously unknown to them. This also increases their confidence by giving them stimulating new challenges and experiencing a freedom and independence that they have never felt before. By concentrating on abilities, not disabilities, the students develop the attitude of, "If I can do this, I can do anything". Students will attest to the positive effects the program has had on their lives.

Adaptive Techniques & Equipment:

• Three Track Skiing
  Three-track skiers use one ski and two outriggers (adapted forearm crutches with ski tips attached to the bottoms). A person who has the use of one leg, generally because of amputation or post polio, would use this method. These skiers usually progress quite rapidly.
  
  
• Four Track Skiing
  Four-track skiers use two skis and two outriggers. Sometimes they will use a ski bra that connects the the ski tips from crossing or wandering. Persons with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, and/or brain injury are among those who can benefit from four-track instruction.
  
  
• Mono Skiing
  On a mono-ski the skier is in a seated position in a fiberglass shell attached to a standard ski. A mono-skier must possess good upper body strength, balance, and trunk mobility. A person who is a double amputee or a person with a low spinal cord injury is ideal for the mono-ski. A mono-skier has the potential of riding a chairlift and skiing independently.
  
  
• Bi-Skiing
  The bi-ski is a fiberglass shell mounted above two unique skis that give improved stability over the mono-ski. The bi-ski allows seated skiers some versatility to ski; with either fixed outriggers (catamaran-type), which increases the skier's ability to make controlled turns, or with short hand held outriggers. Because of its greater stability, the bi-ski can be used by students with many various disabilities.
  
  
• Skiing for People with Visual Impairments
  People with visual impairments are taught the standard ski technique. An instructor skis with the student giving verbal directions. Both the skier and guide wear bright orange bibs to be noticeable to other skiers.
  
  
• People with Intellectual Disabilities
  These skiers are taught the standard ski technique by very patient instructors using special methods and sometimes adaptive pieces of equipment, such as ski bras, to enhance the learning experience. These students enjoy the lessons and surprise both parents and teachers as to what they can accomplish.