Introducing the New Adaptive Snowboard Technical Manual
The brand-new Adaptive Snowboard Technical Manual is now available and ready for you to use in conjunction with all your adaptive snowboard lessons.
Since the early 1990s, adaptive snowboarding has advanced significantly thanks to improvements in technology, the depth of experience among adaptive instructors, and snowboarding’s growth in popularity among students with disabilities. With adaptive snowboarding’s debut at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics, the sport’s visibility has spurred growth within adaptive programs. Plus, improvements in assistive devices and snowboard equipment give people with widely varying abilities easier access to the sport. For example, the remarkable evolution of prosthetics that integrate shocks and suspension systems has made snowboarding more accessible to amputees.
Here, former PSIA-AASI Adaptive Team member and manual author Christina Bruno discusses the work that went into creating this valuable resource, the instructors who helped create the manual, and how it will impact adaptive snowboard instruction.
Q: What are the important takeaways from this manual?
A: The manual represents the most current technical resource about adaptive snowboarding; however, the world of adaptive snowboarding continues to evolve and change, with new technology and insights still to be discovered. It builds on knowledge from the Adaptive Snowboard Resource Guide, whose authors pioneered adaptive snowboarding instruction and set the foundation for this manual.
The manual focuses on connecting the snowboarding fundamentals to the adaptive snowboard tools and techniques currently available to support learning and skill development. Adaptive snowboarding has evolved over the last 20 years, seeing growth in participation and innovation and technology when it comes to prosthetic and equipment development. This new resource captures this development while focusing on understanding the “why” behind introducing new equipment and techniques to adaptive students. It also promotes critical thinking and problem-solving, skills necessary for adaptive instruction.
Q: How will the manual help instructors and students enjoy the sport?
A: This resource is intended to show instructors the variety of options available to them when it comes to equipment choices and adaptive techniques to help with skill development for students. There’s often a lot of trial and error when it comes to teaching adaptive sports. This resource will hopefully allow instructors to make more educated decisions on how they teach their students skills based on a holistic approach where students’ abilities can be paired with equipment or techniques that will allow them to successfully snowboard based on the snowboarding fundamentals. The pathway to create each fundamental may look different based on a student’s profile, equipment, and techniques used, but the outcome of snowboarding and enjoying the mountain environment is the end goal.
Q: Are there any other people you would like to recognize for their contributions?
A: This manual took a massive collaboration from many individuals across the regions. Countless volunteer hours were put into each section, and it was a true labor of love. In addition to the names below, there were additional people involved in editing and making the manual the polished resource it is today. A HUGE thank you to everyone who shared a piece in this journey.
Authors: Christina Bruno, Emily Hearle, Trevor Hildebrand, Michael Ma, Katie Zinn
Contributors: Ann Papenfuss Wing, Aurora Kushner, Barbara Szwebel, Brian Castillo, Charley Phelan, David Skinner, Dr. Scott Borden, Emily Cioffi, Jacob Wagner, Jacqueline Trujillo, John James, Josh Spoelstra, Lane Clegg, Malia Michel, Mathew Yarossi, Matt Bates, Nicole Norden, Norm Staunton, Scott Anfang, Tera Adams, Tim Ball, Yuri Czmola, Holly Anne Andersen.
Q: How does it feel to have this completed and ready to share?
A: I’m so excited for this manual to finally be in the hands of members. It has been a long process from the first draft to edited revisions. I’m grateful for all the work that has been done to create this resource and hope it helps instructors expand their knowledge on what options they have for teaching adaptive snowboarding.
PC: Joe Kusumo
