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Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding

Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding

Skiing and Snowboarding is a great way to find adventure and build transferable skills. Our equipment fleet is designed to accommodate a wide range of disabilities and adaptive needs. Half-day and full-day lessons with a break for lunch are offered at multiple program locations across Maine and are designed to meet the unique needs and goals of each student.

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Adaptive Equipment & Instruction

Maine Adaptive offers a wide range of adaptive equipment and instruction that enable individuals of all abilities and backgrounds to experience the excitement and freedom of snow sports.

 

Adaptive equipment and instruction can be costly, but donations and volunteers make it possible. Thank you to all our supporters for making sure every athlete has access to the tools they need.

 

Scroll through the slides to explore some of the equipment and techniques.

Two Track
Two-tracking is for skiers with mild motor deficits or those who are visually or hearing impaired. A two tracker will use two skis. Other equipment may include; poles, tethers, tip retention device, or a visually impaired or hearing impaired bib.
Three Track
Three-tracking is for skiers with one sound leg. A typical three-tracker is an above the knee amputee, but there are other people who three-track as well. The three-tracker will use one ski and a pair of outriggers.
Four Track
Four-tracking is for skiers with moderate motor deficits. Four-trackers may have disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or below the knee amputation. The four-tracker will use two skis and a pair of outriggers. Other equipment may include tethers or tip retention devices.
Slider
Slider skiing is for skiers with moderate motor deficits or those with balance or strength deficits. Disabilities may include cerebral palsy, brain injury, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. The slider provides a very stable base of support for the skier and has an infinite number of adjustments to accommodate a variety of skiers. The slider skier uses a pair of skis and the slider. The slider is tethered from behind by an instructor and can be taken on the chair lift.
Mono-Ski
Mono-skiing is for skiers who need to ski in a seated position. The skier must have good upper body strength and good sitting balance. A mono-skier may have lower extremity amputations, spinal cord injury, spina bifida or a neuromuscular disease. The mono-ski has a molded seat in a ski frame which is mounted directly onto a single ski. A mono-skier will use hand held outriggers. Most mono-skis have a lift assist mechanism to allow the skier to independently load a chairlift.
Bi-Ski
Bi-skiing is for skiers who need to ski in a seated position. The bi-skier may have a more involved disability than a mono- or dual-skier. A bi-skier may have spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury or brain injury. The bi-ski seat and frame are mounted onto an articulating device mounted on two skis. Adding fixed outriggers and/ or handlebars allow for a broader range of bi-ski participants. The bi-ski is often tethered and has a hinging mechanism that allows the bi-ski to be loaded and unloaded from the chairlift.
Ski Bike
Ski bikes are for skiers who fatigue easily or who have mild motor impairments in the lower extremities. The ski bike is often used in a lesson after a few runs of skiing. The ski bike looks like a bike with short skis instead of tires. The skier sits on the seat and uses short skis on their feet.

Join us on the slopes!

Whether you’re an experienced skier or trying these sports for the first time, we welcome you to get involved, build your skills, and have fun.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Maine Adaptive programming is open to children and adults with a variety of disabilities. Check out our Guidelines for Participation on the Participate Page for details.

Nothing! All lessons with Maine Adaptive are 100% free of charge — winter and summer – including your lift ticket/trail pass, your equipment, and the instruction you will receive.

No. Maine Adaptive has equipment to fit many shapes and sizes. We are ready to find the right equipment for your needs. If you already own your own equipment, you are welcome to use it during your lesson.

Getting started is easy! All of the forms you need to get started with us are just a click away. Check out the Participate Page for more information.

All of the lessons at Maine Adaptive are taught by experienced and trained volunteers and stress safety, fun, and learning. When you arrive for a confirmed lesson, you will need to check-in. Check in with us at our meeting location, and our staff and volunteers will make sure you have what you need. 

After everyone has arrived, you will be paired up with volunteer instructors for your lesson. Talk to those volunteers about your goals for the lesson – they are there to work with you. You and your volunteers can decide when to take breaks or stop for lunch. At the end of your lesson, you can return any equipment you used and any trail pass you checked out. This is also a good time to talk to your instructors about your goals. Did you meet your goals for the lesson? What do you want to work on next time?

At Sugarloaf:

Meet Maine Adaptive in the King Pine Room of the lodge (can be accessed from the front of the lodge taking an elevator up one floor to the King Pine Level). Sugarloaf has limited accessible parking available in front of the to the hotel and at the based of super quad.  All parking lots have a shuttle system up to the main based on a regular basis. Individuals and equipment can also be dropped off in front of the hotel.


At Sunday River:

Meet at the Maine Adaptive’s Sundance Ski Lodge located just above the South Ridge Base Area. Stay straight through the base area, drive under a bridge and our lodge is on the left at 8 Sundance Lane in Newry. Accessible parking is available for all ski participants directly by the lodge. Note: Volunteers are asked to drop off their equipment at the lodge and park in Lot 6 below South Ridge (shuttles are available, tell them you are going to Maine Adaptive).

 

At Pleasant Mountain:

-Parking lot option A is the closest. You’ll meet us at Alpine Sugar Haus. This building is open to us from 8:30am-2pm. Anytime not during this time frame, you are able to go inside the main lodge if you choose. VERY IMPORTANT! The Alpine Sugar Haus is a nut-free building. Please do not bring any nut products into the building and if you eat them outside or in the main lodge, wash your hands before re-entering the Sugar Haus.

 

At Saddleback:

Individuals and equipment can be dropped off in front of the lodge drop off area or at the base dog the lodge by the entrance of the ski school and shop. Limited accessible parking is available at the base of the lodge. You can also park along the road before the lodge or above the drop off area. Once inside the lodge, we will be in the far side of the main floor, facing the slope. For those entering from the lower floor, there is an elevator up that unlocks in the kitchen (exit left to the main floor).

Transportation to all activities is the responsibility of the participant. The goal of Maine Adaptive is to get individuals active, so they can enjoy sports with their family and friends independently. However, one way people get to lessons is by carpooling with volunteers or other participants. We can provide you with the names and phone numbers of people in your area that would be willing to provide transportation. All you have to do is contact us!

Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your lesson time. 

At Sugarloaf:

You may boot up at the tables, but please move your gear over to the wall on the floor, not under the tables.


At Sunday River:

You may boot up inside Maine Adaptive’s Sundance lodge, please store all gear in cubbies not at tables.


At Pleasant Mountain:

You may boot up and leave your gear inside the Alpine Sugar Haus. If you are a volunteer and choose to free-ski after lessons are over, please

make sure your gear is not in the lodge in case it gets locked up before you are done.


At Saddleback:

You may boot up inside the main lodge, please store all gear in cubbies not at tables.

Volunteers will see who they are matched with prior to each program day using the online Portal; we will have a small white board inside with matches in case there are any changes.

Just pick up the phone and call us at (207) 824-2440. We understand that life is unpredictable and you may need to change your confirmed schedule. We ask that you contact us at least 24 hours in advance so that we can fill your lesson space. Our phone is always on – feel free to leave a message.

Maine Adaptive only cancels lessons in the case of unsafe conditions. If you think this may be the case, call the office at 207-824-2440 to hear any cancellation information. The machine is updated by 6:00 AM if lessons are cancelled for the day. If we are still holding lessons but you do not want to travel in the inclement weather, just leave a message letting us know.

Yes! Even though we are widely known for skiing, we do so much more. In the winter, you can join Maine Adaptive for skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing. If you are looking for summer activities, join Maine Adaptive for golf, cycling, mountain biking, tennis, paddling, pickleball, or climbing.