| Description |
Adaptive sports and recreational rehabilitation provide patients with experiences that cannot be achieved in a hospital or clinic. Of the many forms of adaptive equipment designed for children, only a few adaptive skiing systems are available and none are specifically designed for convenient adjustability between multiple users. The purpose of this project was to design and fabricate a highly adjustable adaptive skiing system with interchangeable bases for the National Ability Center (NAC) in Park City, Utah. The final design involved a swappable chair fixture that is placed on a sit-ski base that is steered by two handles, a bi-ski base, and a traditional mono-ski base. The chair fixture was designed with a dovetail connection to facilitate adjustability and the ability to switch between the different bases. A key design element was the ability to adjust center of mass position to achieve optimal performance for individual riders using the dovetail design. In order to accommodate users from the 5th to 95th percentile of the pediatric population age 7-15, many of the parts were designed for adjustability. The foot bar, seat, and dovetail all adjust to accommodate the desired population. These adjustments and this innovative design provide on of the most adaptable skiing systems available for pediatric users, and the device offers a unique opportunity for children requiring adaptive skiiing technology to learn to ski. |
