In addition to acknowledging general fitness to participate in the adaptive snow sports program, all participants must acknowledge the ability to perform the following minimal functional thresholds for safe participation:
❖ Participants must be able to comply with CDC, OSHA, GERM, and VA Dept of Health safety and hygiene recommendations.
❖ Participants must be able to follow instructions and effectively communicate independently or with assistance of a companion or PCA.
❖ Participants must be COVID-19 symptom-free for 2 weeks prior to the scheduled activity date.
❖ Participants (adaptive athletes, siblings, parents, and staff volunteers) must be able to wear properly fitting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — masks/face-covering and other equipment deemed appropriate during scheduled programming and logistics activities whenever in the company of others.
❖ Participants must be able to follow safety rules and protocols — scheduled temperature checks, washing hands, social distancing and other identified personal protection procedures deemed appropriate — independently or with the assistance of a companion or PCA.
All snow-based program participants (including all alpine, snowboard, nordic and snowshoeing) must additionally acknowledge the following:
❖ Participants who have temporary or permanent disabilities may require one or more types of adaptive equipment in order to ski or ride. The allowance of adaptive snow sports equipment that is designed and manufactured solely intended for use by individuals who have disabilities is in accordance with ADA section 36.302(b)(2)(A)(ii)*.
❖ Participants must always wear properly fitting snow sports gear, safety equipment including but not limited to a helmet, seasonal clothing layers with: UV protection; temperature/thermoregulation capabilities (hot/cold); wind, moisture, rain protection; reflective properties, boots as well as other adaptive equipment wherever and whenever required by snow sports industry standards.
❖ Participants must be able to comply with basic directions, and rules independently or with the assistance of an adaptive guide/instructor or companion: i.e. following directions, taking turns, waiting for the instructor or rest of the group.
❖ Participants must always use adaptive equipment restraint devices deemed necessary wherever and whenever required by snow sports industry standards.
❖ Participants who use sit-ski equipment (Mono-ski or Bi-ski) may not weigh more than 220 lbs. due to the specified equipment limits.
❖ Participants who use sit-ski equipment (Bi-ski) must be able to independently hold their head upright without neck/ head support.
❖ Participants must be able to breathe independently without medical devices to sustain breathing.
❖ Participants must be able to manage personal care independently or with assistance of a companion or PCA.
❖ Participants must be able to manage personal mobility (ambulation or wheelchair) independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance (adaptations implemented which do not fundamentally alter the nature of the program).
NOTE: Safety of ALL (participants, companions/PCA, staff instructors, and volunteers is of paramount importance. Adaptive Guides/Instructors may need to include additional safety-based EEC to address environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, deep snow, ice, inclines/declines, and other environmental conditions).
Refer to adaptive disciplines for descriptions: (2-Track, 3-Track, 4-Track, Mono-Ski, Bi-Ski, Guiding for Blind/Visually Impaired or Deaf/Hearing Impaired, Snowboard, Nordic Skiing, Snowshoeing). Adaptive equipment is to be used for operational purposes only: training of adaptive athletes, adaptive guides/instructors or companions.
Participants must demonstrate the ability to perform as follows:
❖ Participants must be able to comply with basic directions, rules and etiquette independently or with the assistance of an adaptive guide/instructor or companion: i.e. following directions, taking turns, yielding to others who have the right of way, waiting for the instructor or rest of the group.
❖ Participants must be able to properly put on and take off the skiing or snowboarding equipment, independently or with the assistance of an adaptive guide/instructor or companion.
❖ Participants must be able to load, ride, and unload the lifts safely, either independently or with the assistance of an adaptive guide/instructor or companion.
❖ Participants must be able to Ski or Snowboard on appropriate trails and areas, control speed, and return to the base area, either independently or with the assistance of an adaptive guide/instructor or companion.
❖ Participants must be able to get off of the ski trail, independently or with the help of an adaptive guide/instructor or companion. If he/she falls down, the adaptive athlete is able to get into the position necessary to continue skiing or snowboarding, independently or with the help of an adaptive guide/instructor or companion.
❖ Participants must be able to comply with “Your Responsibility Code.” This is another example of EEC because it must be applied to all skiers and riders, those with and without disabilities.
✓ Always stay in control.
✓ People ahead of you have the right-of-way.
✓ Stop in a safe place for you and others.
✓ Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield.
✓ Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
✓ Observe signs and warnings and keep off closed trails.
✓ Know how to safely use the ski lifts.
~ Courtesy of the National Ski Areas Association