With frost in the air all of us at Two Top are starting to think about snow!!!

We have our Volunteer Training scheduled for Saturday December 12th and Sunday December 13th. This will be an excellent time to get to know each other and try out our new equipment. Two Top has a new Mono Ski and several older ones that we have reconditioned. We look forward to a busy season this year.
This winter Two Top is planning to expand our ski and snowboard program to include racing. We plan to have an “Intro to Gates Training Clinic” on January 23rd 2010.

Volunteers from the ski school that work with the Whitetail Race Team will be helping. On February 6th and 7th 2010, we will have race training for Special Olympics and hope to incorporate some Wounded Warriors into that race.

This coming season we will also host P.S.I.A. Adaptive Level I exams on March 14th and March 15th 2010. All three disciplines will be available, cognitive, ¾ track and mono/bi ski.

Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding are taught differently to every athlete depending on their disability. Lessons are offered by reservation only starting at 10am or 1pm every day of the week. All lessons are taught by Whitetail instructors assisted by volunteers, most are P.S.I.A certified, some even have disabilities of their own. Join us for a safe and fun experience.

Alpine Skiing taught by Two Top Adaptive include:

Two-Track:  Two-tracking is for skiers who are visually or hearing impaired or those that have mild deficits in their motor skills, autism or learning disabilities. A two tracker will use a pair of skis. They may use other equipment as well such as ski poles, tip retention devices, or wear a bib indicating a hearing problem or blindness. These skiers may be tethered.

Three Track: Three tracking is typically for amputee skiers, or a skier with only one strong leg. A three track skier will use only one ski and a pair of outriggers (crutches with small skis on their bottom).

Four Track:  A skier will four track when they use two skis and hand held outriggers. They may have multiple sclerosis, spinal bifida or cerebral palsy. A below the knee amputee that wants to use their prosthesis can be a four tracker and use two skis and a pair of outriggers. Other equipment may include tip retention devices or tethers.

Mono Ski: A mono-skier is normally someone who uses a wheel chair, the skier needs to have good upper body strength and have good sitting balance. The mono skier may have a double amputation, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disease or spinal bifida. A mono ski has a molded seat that mounts to a frame that is attached to a single ski. Hand held outriggers are commonly used with a mono ski. Most mono skis have a hydraulic lift mechanism to allow the skier to independently load a chair lift.

Bi-Ski: The Bi-Ski is for guests that need to ski in a seated position, and have a more serious disability than a mono-skier. A bi-skier may have a brain injury, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or spinal bifida. The bi-ski molded seat is mounted to an articulated device that is mounted to two skis. A handle bar and fixed outriggers can be mounted to the bi-ski to allow a broader range of participants, or they can use hand held outriggers if able. The bi-ski is often tethered and also has a hydraulic lift mechanism that allows it to be loaded on a chair lift.

Snowboarding taught by Two Top Adaptive:

With new snowboarding equipment and an ability to modify and adapt gear, learning to snowboard has become easier. Snowboarding can be for individuals with mild deficits in motor skills or those who are visually and hearing impaired, as well as individuals with autism and learning disabilities. We have even worked with below knee amputees that choose to wear their prosthesis. Using one or two outriggers for balance is a great way to help teach snowboarding to our guest.