Adaptive Skiing: Coaching Fundamentals for Mono-Skiers

A mono-ski is a type of sit-ski equipped with a single articulating ski, molded seat, straps, foot supports, a frame, linkage, and a shock absorber or suspension system. Watch this video to learn about different tests and evaluations that will help you assess your student’s potential capabilities. Mono-skiers are often those who’ve had a spinal cord injury, and since the effects of spinal cord injuries and other disabilities vary greatly from person to person, there’s no exact science to assessment, but you can use these simple exercises to guide your decisions.
For those unable to ski in the standing position, the mono-ski allows an individual with little or no use of their legs to ski independently. If the student is athletic and in excellent condition, it’s possible for a person with an injury as high as T4 to use a mono-ski. However, a person with a high level of injury may lack the necessary balance and strength. Your task is to determine whether the student is a better candidate for mono-skiing or bi-skiing.
This video will also help you gain insight on how to familiarize your student with the equipment and how to adjust the equipment to fit your student’s body and needs. See various balance exercises, flatland exercises, loading and unloading the lift, and other methods to help your student to become independent mono-skiers.
Be sure to watch the other videos in this Adaptive Skiing playlist:
Introduction to Coaching Fundamentals: • Adaptive Skiing: Intro...
Coaching Fundamentals for Two-Track Skiers: • Adaptive Skiing: Coach...
Coaching Fundamentals for Students with Visual Impairment: • Adaptive Skiing: Coach...
Coaching Fundamentals for Three-Track Skiers: • Adaptive Skiing: Coach...
Coaching Fundamentals for Four-Track Skiers: • Adaptive Skiing: Coach...
Coaching Fundamentals for Bi-Skiers: • Adaptive Skiing: Coach...
Access more PSIA-AASI resources for adaptive instructors, some of which are free:
Adaptive Alpine Technical Manual www.thesnowpro...
Adaptive Instruction Supplement: Diagnoses & Medication Classifications (free)
www.qgdigitalp...
Adaptive Snowsports Instruction (free)
www.thesnowpro...
Adaptive Snowboard Guide (free)
www.thesnowpro...
Fundamental Mechanics of Alpine Skiing Across Adaptive Disciplines (free)
www.thesnowpro...
Members of the PSIA-AASI Eastern Division Adaptive Education Staff produced the videos in this playlist as a teaching aid for the development of the adaptive community of alpine skiers.