Adaptive Snowshoeing Equipment

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Dave Schoeneck. We're here in the Wasatch, beautiful Wasatch Mountains of Utah, here to talk about adaptive sports, and how snowshoeing can fit in with a lot of people's adaptive life. Equipment is basically very important. To not only the comfort level of the person starting out, but also the function of the activity of snowshoeing. So making sure that the equipment, first off fits properly, and that everyone knows how to put it on, and they can put it on themselves. So going over the straps, making sure the foot is in properly. These straps are tightened nice and firm, so that the boot isn't going to be sliding around, and then, they're all pretty basic. A couple of top straps, and one that comes around the heel, that you really want to make sure that one is nice and snug, so the heel isn't coming out of the straps. Once you're in tight, and understanding that the snowshoe is designed to go forward, it doesn't like to go backward, as much. That's a good exercise to show someone that you want to go in a circle, as opposed to trying to back up. If someone, Downs is an example, Syndrome, getting them comfortable with putting the snowshoes on and off. They can do it themselves. Again, that's a confidence builder, and then they're snowshoeing, because they've got their snowshoes on themselves, so again it's just a start. It's a little thing, but it can make a big difference."