It’s the season to start
thinking about snowboarding.
I’ve been a below-knee
amputee for ten years and an
avid snowboarder for eight.
Snowboarding has given me
some of the most blissful
moments I’ve ever experienced.
For amputees with a desire to
snowboard, here are two
obvious, but important, pieces
of snowboarding advice:

1. Wear a helmet.
2. Take a lesson.

Eight years ago few, if any, adaptive snowboard lessons were offered. Today, there are adaptive schools at most resorts and many offer snowboard lessons along with adaptive skiing techniques. If the ski resort near you doesn’t offer adaptive snowboard lessons, voice your disappointment and ask for referrals in the area.

If lessons aren’t available nearby or you are about to have your first lesson, here are a couple tips for getting started. The most important point for the amputee snowboarder to consider is how well their prosthesis is fitting. How does your residual limb fit in its socket? What suspension system do you use? What kind of prosthesis do you use?

Winter is when my prosthetic and my residual limb get the most use and abuse. I snowboard on a Pathfinder® II foot, wear custom Alpha® DESIGN™ Liners with a shuttle lock system, and wear an additional suspension sleeve for extra security. I’ve seen amputee riders use knee straps, waist belts, full lace-up leggings, etc. Do whatever is necessary to keep your prosthesis secure!

Some amputees, especially bilateral transfemoral amputees, use no prostheses at all and fit the residual limb(s) directly into a snowboard boot. For transfemoral amputees it can be advantageous to ride with the prosthetic knee in a flexed position. Some AK prostheses have this feature built in. If yours does not, there are methods to make this happen with a leg that only locks the knee in the straight position: heavy cardboard and duct tape (the secret weapon of any adaptive endeavor), a knee brace “fixed” in a flexed position, rebar, and even PVC piping.