Winter brings to mind images of snowmen, ski slopes and icicles. And although wheelchairs and snow don’t necessarily mix, there are many pieces of adaptive ski equipment that can help everyone hit the slopes. Of course the type of equipment and adaptations vary depending on each individual’s ability; but here’s a good overview of what’s generally available at adaptive ski schools across the US.

Stand-up Skiing

Stand-up adaptive skiing is classified by the number of tracks left in the snow — two-track, three-track and four-track. Two-track skiers use two skis, but adaptations like tethering to the instructor help steer the skier. Three-track skiers use one ski and two outriggers. The outriggers are ski poles with ski tips on the ends, which help the skier steer and balance. Four-track skiers use two skis and two outriggers.

Two-track skiing is suitable for anyone who can stand, and does not require outriggers to maintain their balance. It’s generally a good choice for people with cognitive or sensory disabilities, or for folks with a mild physical disability. Three-track skiing is the go-to pick for single leg amputees, while four-track skiing can generally be done by anybody who uses a cane or crutches.

Sit Down Skiing

Even if you can’t stand it’s still possible to ski with a mono-ski or a bi-ski. The mono-ski is a molded shell that’s mounted on a single ski. Two outriggers are used to maintain balance and help steer the mono-ski. This adaptive device is a good choice for folks who have good upper body strength and some trunk mobility.

The bi-ski is much like the mono-ski, except that it’s mounted on two skis for extra stability. It’s a good choice for beginners as it can be tethered to a ski instructor who skis behind the bi-skier. Bi-skiers can either use hand-held outriggers or fixed outriggers; however independent skiing is only possible with the former. A bi-ski is a good choice for someone who can’t stand and has little or no upper body strength. A wide variety of bi-ski adaptations are available, to make the sport accessible to as many folks as possible.

Snowboarding and More

Although some adaptive ski schools just offer basic equipment, others offer a bit more. Snowboarding is becoming popular in the adaptive skiing circle, as a wide variety of adaptations are available. Some sit down equipment can be modified to accommodate a snowboard, and there are also a wide variety of bindings and boots available. Stand-up snowboarding is also offered at many ski schools.

Another unique piece of adaptive skiing equipment is the ski bike. This is basically a bicycle frame that’s mounted on two skis — one under the seat and another in front. Ski bikers also have two short foot skis attached to their boots to help with steering and balance. Ski bikes can tethered, which is usually the case during the initial learning period. If participants have enough movement and strength in their legs they can usually graduate to independent ski biking.

Adaptive Ski Schools

Although it’s not a comprehensive list, here are some adaptive skiing schools in the Western US. So get ready to hit the slopes this winter.