Snowboarding is a winter sport that is loved by many, but not accessible by all. This adaptive snowboard trainer shrinks that gap by allowing people with physical disabilities such as incomplete paraplegia, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy to learn to snowboard comfortably and safely. To ensure the optimal design was reached, this adaptive snowboard trainer was put through extensive user testing with users who have varying levels of physical disabilities. The rigorous testing phase and ‘problems assessed and addressed’ phase yielded a final model appropriate to the allowed time frame and available resources. This working model, constructed with carbon fiber and aluminum, attaches to standard drilled snowboard mounts. The user uses the poles to compensate for reduced leg control, and may choose to add a rear leg brace to further enhance control and stability.
Complete project time: 8 Months