History:
The pioneers of adaptive snowboarding, include Chris Brodbeck, Lucas Grossi, Thayne Mauler, Pam Eberly, Brent Kuemmerle, and Steve W.J. Harris. They were the far and few. In 2006 we saw 25 adaptive riders descend on USASA Nationals at Lake Tahoe, California. This number marked a milestone in the world of competitive snowboarding.
The inclusion of adaptive snowboarding in the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games was recently rejected. It is currently under consideration for the 2018 Winter Games.
The following are available for more information on ASB:
PDF Adaptive Snowboarding Athlete Master List
The following are available for more information on ASB:
PDF Adaptive Snowboarding Athlete Master List
Adaptive Snowboarding Defined:
Although adaptive snowboarding has not been officially defined, this is what it means to us.
Adaptive: adj.
- Relating to or exhibiting adaptation.
- Readily capable of adapting or of being adapted: an adaptive worker; adaptive equiptment for children with special needs.
- serving or able to adapt to perform
Snowboarding: noun
- the sport of moving across snow on a board, resembling a wide ski, to which both feet are secured and that one rides in an upright position.
- sport that involves using one board while traveling downhill on snow.
Most adaptive snowboarders fall under one of these categories It does not include cognitive disorders:
- Below-knee Amputee
- Above-knee Amputee
- Blind
- Incomplete paralysis
- Complete paralysis
The World Snowboard Federation is currently the international governing body of Adaptive (aka Para) Snowboarding. Rules, regulation and official racing information can be found on their site.
