by Gwen Allard
Director, Disabled Program, Ski Windham, N.Y.
and Director, PSIA Eastern Education Foundation
With the new American Disabilities Act regulations, every ski school library should have a copy of “Bold Tracks,” a comprehensive guide to basic adaptive ski teaching. An instructor, with a good knowledge of the American Teaching Skill and Learning Method, can easily follow and understand goals and equipment adaptations as presented in this book.
“Bold Tracks” guides the reader through the student evaluation process to determine degree of disability, muscle coordination/strength, the when’s, why’s and how’s of specialized adaptive equipment, safety considerations plus a detailed guide to a modified skill progression for three and four track skiing, sit- and mono-skiing, blind skiing and guiding, learning disabled and hearing impaired. A large, comprehensive section describes major characteristics of disabilities, their causes, likely treatment and common side effects from treatment. The descriptions help the instructors understand each disability as it relates to developing skiing skills. For example: “Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system). MS interferes with the brain’s ability to control such functions as seeing, walking, talking etc.” A listing of commonly prescribed medications helps to complete an instructor’s knowledge.
A pictorial display of commonly used equipment modifications provides an innovative teacher a starting point from which to solve specific balance and lateral control problems for students. A listing of equipment manufacturers is an added reference tool for those not familiar with the adaptive ski teaching world.
A “how to establish a program section” (from fund raising, training of instructors to sample administrative forms) will assist most ski schools in starting a program. A listing of organizations and associations, films and videos plus other publications gives the reader additional resources to tap.
Author Hal O’Leary is the recognized world leader in adaptive ski teaching. Director of the Winter Park Disabled Program for over 20 years, he shares his wealth of knowledge with readers in a linear, comprehensive manner. His creative and brilliant skills in working with the disabled are well documented within the ski industry and the rehabilitation world. His book (manual) equals his personal reputation and provides an excellent reference guide to face the challenges of providing a win-win skiing experience for the disabled student, ski teacher and ski area.
