CHAPTER 7:SIT- SKI General A Sit -Ski is used mainly by people with limited use (or absence) of their lower extremities. A sit-ski, consists of a molded seat (bucket) mounted on a metal frame. The bucket is roughly equivalent to a standup skiers boot. A shock absorber beneath the seat eases riding on uneven terrain and helps in turning by maximizing ski-snow contact. A metal or plastic block clicks into the ski's binding. A sit-skier uses outriggers for stability; an outrigger resembles a short forearm crutch with a short ski on the bottom. The Sit-ski is designed to allow a person to ski independently and the student must have excellent balance to be successful. Student Assessment If this is a returning skier, Check the Student Progress Card and amend the information as required. A fundamental key to a successful lesson is thorough evaluation and assessment and it should begin as soon as you meet the student. Page 44
Visual assessment - If the student walks, does he or she use a cane, crutches or walker. - Does the student wear prosthesis. - What type of wheelchair is used, electric, one with a headrest or side bars or a sports chair. Is there an inflatable cushion. - Does the student look well balance and self sufficient. Physical and Disability Assessment Strength; - Have the student transfer from their chair to a bench, offer you a firm handshake, press against their outstretched arms and observe the amount of resistance. Balance; - Can student perform a wheely in their chair, spread arms and tilt torso from side to side. Coordination; - observe the student performing tasks you ask them to complete - Have skier grip and operate an outrigger. Flexibility and Range of Motion; - Tilt head form side to side and for and aft - Swing arms in large circles - Rotate upper body from side to side and bend forward and back - Pick up a glove off the floor - Can student bend their knees to a 90 degree angle Vision and Hearing; does the student have issues with either of these senses. Hearing aids/glasses. ***Autonomic Dysreflexia. - Has the skier experienced AD and do they recognize the signs. All instructors should be aware of the causes, symptoms and steps to take if AD should occur. Page 45
Finally, establish a rapport with the student while acquiring further information; - What is your specific disability, is it an acquired injury. - Is your injury complete or incomplete - Do you wear a catheter or have other devices such as support rods in the spine- do you suffer from pressure spots - Have you had recent surgery - Have you skied before. - Are you excited to ski, what are your expectations from this lesson. Equipment and Setup The Bucket The seat should be snug and comfortable. Choose a ski that has a bucket best suited for the student. A more up-right, comfortable seat good for almost all mono-skiers A more angled, athletic seat better for skiers with more control of their body. Adjust straps so that there is no movement inside the bucket. Think of it as the equivalent to a ski boot. It needs to be tight, but not painful. Choose a bucket liner L,M,S which will reduce the amount of padding required. When tightening straps, watch out for leg bags and sensitive areas. In general, strapping should be as low as possible, allowing fore/aft and rotary movement of the torso. Ensure there is sufficient padding between the knees. Continuously check the straps to make sure they are snug, especially after a fall. Remove any snow that accumulates in the bucket after a fall as well. Be careful not to limit flexibility and mobility however. The point is to use what the skier has available, and compensate for anything that is not available. The Foot Tray The foot tray provides a platform to secure and protect the lower legs and feet. It should be adjusted to allow for bent knees and an athletic position. The knees should be bent enough to help the student move forward and backward easily. A higher -level injury may require the knees to be bent more to keep the student s body from moving too far forward. Outriggers The outriggers can be adjusted for length, brake and cuff height and they assist in balance, steering and are a mechanism for moving around on flat terrain. In the crutch position, outriggers are used when maneuvering the ski in a static position, such as pushing on the flats and loading a chairlift. Page 46
For beginners, outriggers can be a little longer to provide a more stable plat form. Initially the outriggers should be adjusted so that when the skier is in an athletic sitting position with the elbows bent and relaxed the ski lies flat on the snow and the tip is positioned between the feet and knees. As skiers become more advanced, the out riggers are used less and less on the snow, although be sure they are long enough for the skier to push up onto a chairlift in the loading position. Adjusting the brake For beginners, allow for more braking, but not so much that the skier can t glide without braking. As the skier advances to more difficult terrain, less brake is needed. Suspension the strut on the sit-ski is adjustable. Ensure it is adjusted to provide a smooth ride dependent on the skier s weight. Dowel Test Perform a dowel test when setting up a student in the sit-ski This ensures that the person s center of mass is balanced near the center of the ski. This will allow skier to pressure the ski tip. Inspection of Gear Ensure all associated equipment for selected sit-ski and outriggers are secure and serviceable prior to Introduction Lesson. Tools Sit-ski, tether, out riggers, wooden dowel Page 47
Lesson One Introduction to Equipment Terrain: to be completed indoors. Skill Development: stance and balance Teaching Tips, Drills and Exercises: - Introduce the equipment before loading the skier into the ski. Explain functional aspects and safety features. - Demonstrate the loading mechanism - Demonstrate the functions and use of the outriggers - Transfer skier to -ski adjust straps/padding and explain importance of a snug fit - Show use of outriggers: walking/.ski position. Practice. - teach appropriate body position neutral athletic stance: outriggers next to heel of boot, hands relaxed, elbows bent and by hips, shoulders relaxed, head up and centered, eyes forward. (Photo) - Head should always remain centered over the torso. Nose over your navel. - Dowel test the ski and take time to set up equipment properly. Remember...independence is the goal. Explain what to do, and help the student as necessary, but allow the student to do as much as possible from the very beginning. Allow the student to do as much of the loading and adjustments as they can. Exercises - Have student transfer to the ski and demonstrate how straps work. - Experiment with balance: slowly rock forward and back, rotate torso, head and shoulders with outriggers on the ground and in the air. - Demonstrate the appropriate body position and balance. - Demonstrate use of outriggers. Have student practice switching outriggers from crutch to skiing position. - Explain and demonstrate the loading mechanism. Practice. Page 48
Tips: - Ensure the student is dressed appropriately for conditions. Many will have no feeling in their lower extremities. Dress warm but comfortably. - Make sure student has used the washroom prior to departure for the slopes. Tools - wooden dowel, wrenches, padding, extra strapping Lesson Two Moving on Flat Terrain Terrain: Relatively flat terrain in a safe area away from traffic. Skill Development: Stance and Balance Teaching Drills, Tips and Exercises: - Re-enforce correct body position - Work on balance,exercise body rotation, move for and aft with outriggers on the snow and progress to raising riggers off the ground - Push around using the outriggers in crutch position and in -skiing position. - Lift the ski off the ground using the outriggers in crutch position. - Star turns: turning the ski in a circle while lifting the ski off the ground using outriggers in crutch position. - demonstrate the use of the outriggers to stop. Tips : - Avoid leaning to ensure skier is pivoting on a flat ski - Always teach from in front of the student - Have the skier do as much of the work as possible, but be careful not to wear them out too soon. - if skier continues to have balance problems, check that the ski is balanced and set up correctly. The hips must be square. - Make sure the straps are positioned correctly to provide support where necessary but still allowing the skier to move as much as possible - try to avoid excessive bucket assisting (holding on to the back of the seat to provide balance) Page 49
Lesson Three Straight Run, Braking, Fall Recovery Terrain: Slight increase in pitch. Find an area which has a run out at the bottom to provide a natural stop. Try to use the upper Carpet. Skill Development: - Balance, edge control, pressure control Teaching Tips, Drills and Exercises - Stress body position and ensure equal pressure is applied to both outriggers - Align student facing directly down the fall line. He may need assistance to get into position. Brace with the riggers in crutch position - On command, student puts riggers in ski position and skis straight ahead to a natural stop. Repeat as required. - Skier repeats the straight run procedure but attempts to stop by lowering elbows and driving the hand down and forward to initiates a stop using the heels of the outriggers - Practice speed control using the outriggers. Brake and release. - Raise outriggers off the snow during straight runs. Balance. - Explain the technique, demonstrating the use of riggers in assisting a skier to right the sit-ski. This may be difficult for many students. Don t over exert them. Tips: - Keep both outriggers on the snow. This will prevent leaning - Instructors should take their skis off during this lesson Tools: - If speed control or safety is an issue, a single tether can be used. It should be placed low on the bucket and not be used for directional control. Page 50
Lesson Four - Beginning Wedge Turn Terrain: - pitch should allow for increased but consistent speed and have a simple fall line. Work your way toward the bottom of upper Carpet or the Green Face Skill Development: - Pressure, edging, balance, pivoting Teaching Tips, Drills, and Exercises: - In straight run, have the student turn his head and shoulders (point the chin) in the direction of the turn. Ensure his/her torso is rotating and not leaning. - Place inside outrigger on slight edge to create friction - Skier should be maintaining a flat ski and perform skidded turns - Continue the turn in one direction and come to a stop - repeat in opposite direction - Add slight changes of direction to the straight run to introduce turning. Gradually increase size of turn. Turn in each direction to a stop, using outrigger braking if needed. - Lean forward slightly ( pressure the ski tip) to initiate turn and move back to neutral to finish the turn - Mileage! Goal would be to begin linking turns. Future picture Page 51
Tips: - Ski in front of student in a reverse wedge and have him follow your tracks. Vary the size of the turns. - Watch the outriggers, too much pressure could be balance problems - Make sure the student is looking up and not focused on the tip of the sitski - The outside outrigger should remain forward and not fall back past the thigh - Emphasize turn shape to control speed - Body position, body position! Tools: - Single safety tether if required. Lesson Five Wedge turn Equivalent Terrain: - Your choice of terrain will be dependent on the progress and ability of your student. Green/Blue Skill Development: - Balance at higher speed, edge control, pressure control Teaching, Tips, Drills and Exercises: - Mileage! Practice variety of turns and use terrain for turning - Practice traversing - Introduce opening the door concept - Point the down hill rigger down the fall line and extend the arm to initiate the turn - Introduce edge control by matching outriggers while traversing the fall line - Use Christie fan progressions, Falling Leaf, Side Slipping exercises to improve turns and build confidence. Speed will now be increasing - Work on speed control Page 52
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Tips: - At this point body position often starts to be a little ragged. Watch that the body remains centered and that the weight is forward at the start of the turn and moves back at the end. - Forward Side Slipping is an excellent exercise for balance, and transferring from flat ski to an edge and back Tools: - Long tether if required Loading on Magic Carpet and Chairlifts Safety is paramount is loading and unloading of lifts. Ensure your student and your assistant are fully aware of the procedure. Do your briefing before you get into the line up. Magic Carpet: - review procedure with skier and assistant - one instructor will remove skies and assist the skier into position, the second will carry the extra skis up the carpet - let liftie know what you require at the bottom and top. Full stop/slow and if you require assistance. - Assist student on to carpet and support from behind - Skier can assist by placing outriggers on the belt to provide balance Chairlift: - Load through the shortcut - Brief skier and assistant, establish who will count for the lift - Place safety strap/carabineer over the skiers shoulder - Raise the ski to the loading position if it is so equipped Page 54
- Communicate with liftie and state requirement; full stop or slow for bottom and top,and that you require a pullback to load - Ski into position, load and immediately connect the safety strap while second instructor lowers the bar - At the top, remove the safety strap. Raise the bar, have the student put riggers in ski position, and lean forward for the unload Emergency Evacuations: - follow the directions from the Ski Patrol - do not raise bar until evacuation harness has been attached to the belay line Page 55