This is a shot of Falls Creek on the Wombat's Ramble green run. The bi-ski
I am using is a version of a design first developed in Australia in 1987
by George McPherson. The design is very suitable for people without great
arm strength (such as quads like myself). Suspension has not been included
so as to get the centre of gravity as low as possible for stability reasons.
It is not intended as a high speed competition ski but is aimed at recreational
skiers. Although I am a complete C5-C6 quadriplegic, I have had tendon
surgery of a Deltoid/Triceps transfer carried out on both arms. This gives
me a weak Triceps function and makes a lot of difference to my being able
to ski. With no grip function my hands are strapped to the outriggers. In 1991, design details and one ski were sold to an American company
as well as another older design frame to Vale Ski Club where people such
as Mike Utley have used it. This was a result of the American Ski Team
attending the Australian Disabled Skiing Championships that year at Mount
Hotham, where they saw the equipment we had developed. We were approached
by the Americans as we were obviously well down the development trail
where they were yet to start. Sadly they have taken all the credit without
giving any to its originators in Australia. The bi-ski has now become
a useful part of the US ski equipment range. The bi-ski I use is a stainless steel frame capable of opening up for
use of a chair lift, with a fibreglass seat shell. It is mounted on a
"Swing-Bo" snowboard that has two specially shaped skis, both
edged by a mechanism in response to leaning. Detail
photos Basically it operates like a skateboard for snow. This enables a considerable
amount of turn to be created by a small amount of lean to initiate. This
gives good directional control without requiring too much force from the
arms. For quads and those with limited arm strength, this makes skiing
both possible and enjoyable. The original "Swing-Bo" was only 120 cm long and was too touchy
for someone of my weight (80 kg), developing speed wobbles and prone to
over correcting. It also has a very flexible foam core ski that I found
allowed the skis to bust all too easily. Adding a fibreglass stiffener
to the front half of the ski improved the stiffness and reinforced the
main stress area. The problem was solved when we obtained this racing version of the "Swing-Bo"
called the "Challenge". With much stiffer skis that are 150
cm long with less side cut creating less turn they track and run better
and turn at a more controllable rate. Another advantage is that I can
now side slip when required even though we fitted keels from a busted
set of Swing-bo planks. It is a much more functional ski with speed equal
to a standard skier but needs to be pushed around into a carve by use
of the outriggers, like for a mono-ski, as well as leaning. Others who
have tried my ski consider it a real hoot and bloody fast for a bi-ski. Detail photos of the
last version of the "Swing-Bo" bi-ski are all available
for you to have a closer look at its open and closed positions, different
ski sets, keels, frame and mechanism, T-bar tow rope cleats and the way
the bi-skis both edge when the ski leans. Take a look! I sold my ski to Mt Buller Ski School in 2000, so if you want to try
my ski contact them. If you want to buy equipment, check out my 'Garage
Sale' website. Last revised 3 December, 2000.
Snow Skiing
—a sport for real BUM Skiers
Snow skiing on a bi-ski at Fall Creek in Victoria, Australia
Detail photos