New sit-skis help more disabled athletes

Picture the freshly groomed Mirror Lake ski trails with light snow gently falling around you. Double poling through this beautiful scene, picking up speed as you glide downhill, glimpsing the frozen lake ahead. Jane Schmieding enjoys this as much as any other skier, maybe more.

To freely propel herself across this frozen landscape is a bit more challenging for Schmieding, having lived with multiple sclerosis for 30 years. But the freedom of skiing a sit-ski device gives her satisfaction that's hard to match.

"It's remarkable," Schmieding said. "When you can't use your legs, getting the freedom to ski in these beautiful conditions, it's hard to put into words."

Schmieding was leaving for an exercise class when I first contacted her to discuss her experience with adaptive cross-country skiing. She certainly breaks with the common stereotype that disabled people don't have the ability or desire to be active. Exercise and activity are major components of her life. Schmieding kayaks, swims and has tried hand cycling. But her voice lights up when she talks about cross-country skiing on a sit-ski.

Sit-skis are an aluminum device with a mesh seat supported on a frame with two cross-country skis about 14 inches apart. The device allows people with limited leg strength to ski primarily through a poling motion. The skier sits in the seat with legs supported by a foot rest.

"The first time I skied it, I broke it. But the University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering students that built the device were excited because they wanted to determine where to strengthen it. I was one of the guinea pigs for these engineering students," Schmieding laughed. "I still haven't found the brakes."



Much of the energy and push for adaptive skiing comes from Madison Attorney Don Becker. A longtime cross-country skier, Becker supports a variety of disabled and abled programs and events, including Central Cross Country (CXC) and the American Birkebeiner. Becker's push led to a collaboration between UW-Madison Department of Engineering and Isthmus Engineering & Manufacturing, which resulted in a new adaptive type of sit-ski. Sit-skis are typically custom built to fit an individual user. Becker's goal was to create an adaptive sit-ski that could be adjusted to any size user, tremendously increasing the utility of a single device.

The mechanical engineering team that hit on the new design is the UW Center for Rehabilitation and Adaptive Technology (UW-CREATe), which specializes in designing adaptive devices for individuals with disabilities. Isthmus Engineering oversaw the manufacturing of specific parts needed for each sit-ski. H & H Electric contributed the work space for the Madison high school team BadgerBOTS to assemble the devices.

"Becker is the brainchild for the development of a mass-produced sit-ski device," Isthmus engineer Ole Olson said. "In the past these devices were built one at a time, costing up to $3,000. With the help of UW-CREATe and Chip Plummer of H & H Electric, we built 10 prototypes the first year and got people using them. Along the way we refined various aspects of the device and how to manufacture the parts."

More than 150 sit-skis were manufactured and assembled in 2009, with another 100 units currently being assembled.



CXC has taken adaptive skiing under its wing with a goal of promoting coaching, equipment and competition. CXC board member Oyvind Solvang has tapped his Norwegian roots, where adaptive programs have been flourishing for decades, and connected them with the American counterparts.

"The Norwegian philosophy is total integration with the mainstream programs," according to Solvang. "In Norway, the National Cross-Country Championships are integrated with adaptive championships. It's a CXC goal to mimic the Norway model and it's our hope to hold an adaptive World Cup race in Madison in 2012."

The CXC website includes an extensive listing of adaptive events and resources. CXC recently received a grant from the paralympic division of the U.S. Olympic Committee to work with military veterans in the Midwest and Great Lakes region. The program started in June in many of the major veterans hospitals in the Midwest. The grant will allow CXC to expand their efforts and work with already established opportunity centers.

"Military veterans are returning home with damaged limbs. Many of these guys are big time athletes and we need to provide positive outlets for them," Olson said.

While cross-country skiers flock to West Yellowstone, Montana, for early snow and coaching clinics, CXC Adaptive Program Director Justin Easter was looking forward to the first adaptive ski camp that was held there November 19-22, 2010. CXC spearheaded the clinic and brought together disabled skiers, coaching and the latest sit-ski devices. The goal is to develop best practices for teaching and coaching disabled skiers. This program is closely aligned with the U.S. Master Adaptive Ski Team.

"This isn't just a sit-ski program," Easter said. "This is an all encompassing adaptive program where training, coaching, as well as device use are taught.

"People ask me, 'How do we teach sit-ski?' I tell them it's just like teaching high school athletes. There are motivation and fitness components, there are coaching components that include how to fit the device, how to use arms and other aspects of well-organized teaching programs."

Easter said the CXC Adaptive Program has became an integral part of the CXC organization. "We strive to have adaptive skiing integrated into every aspect of what we do, from youth and recreational, up to elite-level racing," he said.



Recreational cross-country skiing increases strength, mobility and endurance, and improves balance as it prevents physical atrophy, regression and mental depression. Not only does it increase fitness, but through the learning of new skills, it also fosters independence and a sense of freedom. With new skills, the individual with a disability can begin to achieve new goals and take pride in new accomplishments. For people with disabilities, the process of becoming more self-sufficient is fundamental to self-esteem.

Becker wants to build and distribute 10,000 sit-skis around the world in 10 years. Is that possible? Those that know Becker say it will be done. He's willing to start by dispersing 250 of the devices.

"We are making them lighter and more maneuverable," Becker said, giving credit to Will Oberton at Fastenal, who's developing and manufacturing most of the parts, and Yuriy Gusev at CXC, who is promoting their use, among others.

Six Wisconsin state parks will have sit-skis available for winter use this year. These include Buckhorn, Harrington Beach, Lapham Peak, Mirror Lake and Richard Bong State Recreation Area. For more information, readers should contact Ed Muzik at 262/646-3025.

The Department of Natural Resources accessibility coordinator Andy Janicki is very excited about offering sit-skis at state parks for the winter recreation season. "I am constantly searching for new opportunities to assist individuals with disabilities in enjoying the outdoors," he said. "I was thrilled to work with the cross-country sit-ski program that's being incorporated into our ever-expanding list of adaptive recreation. The DNR is committed to providing equal access to people of all abilities on our state lands."

The 2011 Birkebeiner will be hosting several adaptive ski events. Prior to the first Birkie finishers on Main Street, spectators will have the opportunity to watch adaptive athletes use the latest ski equipment at 9 a.m. on race day. There will also be a 3K race over the last section of the course. These participating athletes will begin at noon on the far end of Lake Hayward. In addition, there will be a sit-ski demonstration on Thursday and Friday as part of Birkie festivities.

Isthmus engineer Ole Olson described watching the adaptive skiers at the 2010 Birkie, "I got goose bumps watching those skiers come across the finish line in downtown Hayward, and it wasn't from the cold. To see the crowds cheering our sit-skiers, and the look of accomplishment on their faces is something I'll never forget," he said.



Individuals can help by donating new and used equipment to be reformatted into adaptive equipment. They need race cut skis with bases in good shape, 120 cm or greater ski poles with adjustable straps and Salomon Profil bindings. Equipment to be donated can be brought to the Birkie office on Main Street in Hayward until February 18. Also equipment to be donated equipment can be brought to the CXC booth at the Birkie. Skiers interested in participating in the sit-ski events or donating equipment should contact the Birkie office at birkie@birkie.com or by calling 715/634-5025.







SIDEBAR:





• Central Cross Country Adaptive Programs, www.cxcskiing.org/site_pages/adaptive/about.htm

• Adaptive Skiing Program Book, www.blurb.com/books/797904

• USA Paralympics, usparalympics.org/sports/winter-paralympic-sports/cross-country-skiing

• U.S. Nordic Disabled Ski Team, www.usskiteam.com/adaptive

• Wisconsin State Trails Council, disabled representative Jim Joque, jjoque@uwsp.edu

• DNR accessibility coordinator, Andy Janicki, andrew.janicki@wisconsin.gov

• Adaptive Adventures, adaptiveadventures.org





Jan. 29-30: SuperTour, Houghton, MI

Feb. 5: Luminary Loppet, St. Paul, MN

Feb. 12: Wisconsin High School State Ski Championships, Wausau, WI

Feb. 18-20: Madison Winter Festival, Madison, WI

Feb. 27-26: American Birkebeiner, Hayward, WI

March 5-13: Junior Olympics, St. Paul, MN