Adaptive Clothing Designed for Skiers with Disabilities
Author: Ski 2 Freedom
Published: 2010/06/21 - Updated: 2025/08/25
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Category Topic: Adaptive Snow Sports - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article presents specialized adaptive ski clothing developed by A2D in collaboration with Ski 2 Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to making winter sports accessible to people with disabilities. The information proves authoritative through its basis on direct collaboration with disabled athletes, ski instructors, and the winning of the ISPO Brand New Award 2010, demonstrating industry recognition of the innovation. The UTY Handi Range addresses critical challenges faced by physically disabled skiers using sit-skis, incorporating technical features such as removable sleeves, asymmetric cutting for seated positions, reinforced insulation with aluminum film, side leg openings for accessibility, and high-visibility hoods that benefit visually impaired skiers. This specialized clothing eliminates the discomfort and distraction of ill-fitting standard ski wear, allowing disabled skiers to focus entirely on their sport while maintaining warmth and protection in mountain conditions - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Providing information on disabled friendly ski schools and ski resorts to disabled people is just part of the work of non-profit organization Ski 2 Freedom. Ski 2 Freedom has just been asked by A2D to help introduce its UTY label of dedicated disabled ski (handiski) clothing.
Main Content
Ski 2 Freedom Foundation, an independent non-profit organization, was created to be a major portal to provide comprehensive and specialist information on disabled ski schools, disabled ski equipment and accessible ski resorts so that everyone with a disability or special need could be encouraged to participate in snow-sport and mountain activities.
A2D is a textile design, development and production company, created in January 2008 by Arnaud Coquelle, an outdoor, sportswear and textile designer, who has been working in the sport industry for more than 10 years.
The UTILITY HANDI RANGE of adaptive clothing was created for physically disabled skiers who faced problems finding the right ski clothing that offered comfort and protection whilst in a sit-ski. A2D worked with physically disabled skiers to develop a sit-ski outfit that would fulfill their requirements.
Just over a year later after tests and prototypes, the product is now ready for production and won ISPO Brand New Award 2010. The Handi-ski clothing has been developed in close cooperation with disabled athletes. The garment ergonomics have been rethought in close cooperation with a disabled-ski instructor : Francois Laboisette and disabled skiers : Laurent Goubier and Beatrice Larroche to provide high value in use.
Ski 2 Freedom's director and founder Catherine Cosby met with Arnuad Coquelle in Paris on 9 June 2010 at AUTONOMIC. This is an international trade fair for professionals and the general public. With more than 450 exhibitors on 20,000 sqm AUTONOMIC PARIS 2010 is the benchmark trade show where you can meet in a single place all those involved in the disability, dependence and home support sectors for a better autonomy of people at home or in institutions.
Arnaud Coquelle feels that Ski 2 Freedom is an organization, which shares the same beliefs as A2D in giving disabled people who wish to enjoy the mountains in winter the best information, equipment and clothing possible. The meeting had been arranged by UTY Ltd to discuss distribution in the UK and ideas for other types of winter sport gear for disabled people.
Ski 2 Freedom is delighted to be associated with this exciting new range of ski wear specially designed for disabled skiers.
The Ski Clothing (Handiski Range)
Technical Features (taken from UTY brochure):
- Preformed elbows.
- Removable sleeves.
- Velcro loop patches for removable badges.
- Side leg opening for quick access to "pee bag".
- Adjustable bottom sleeve fitting "stabilo" (hand ski).
- High protective collar and magnetized fastener at front flap.
- 3-dimensional mesh fabrics at lining to improve moisture transfer.
- Pants with preformed butt and knee shape adapted to seated position.
- Exclusive ski pants and jacket gaiter overlapping system (UTY INNOVATION).
- Reinforced insulation with aluminum film at area most exposed to the cold.
- High visibility, removable and adjustable helmet size hood (EN471 certified fabric).
- Asymmetric front and back cutting, allows the jacket to be worn over the back of the seat.
This is an exciting range of ski clothes, which meets the special requirements of physically disabled skiers. However, it suits the needs of all types of disability. With the fluorescent hood this also makes ideal ski clothing for visually impaired skiers and their guides. For people with little or no mobility who require being driven in a sit-ski or tandem ski by a disabled-qualified ski instructor this range of ski clothing is perfect as one of the advantages is the reinforced insulation with aluminum film on the front of the ski trousers.
At the moment this range of disabled (handiski) ski clothing is only available for adults. However there are plans to put together a children's range with similar innovative design features. Ski 2 Freedom is working with Arnaud to help towards meeting this next objective.
Catherine Cosby, director and founder of Ski 2 Freedom, saw the outfits for the first time at the Tessier stand at AUTONOMIC and said:
"I am extremely impressed by the innovative design of these ski clothes. Every detail has been well thought out so that a disabled person using a sit-ski will now have the opportunity to totally concentrate on skiing and not on whether they are cold or having to readjust normal ski clothing. My daughter Alexandra, who has Rett Syndrome, has no mobility at all and gets extremely cold in the winter. It is an exciting prospect to know that there is the possibility of using the design and unique fabric composition that UTY and A2D have to give many other disabled people the opportunity to be outside during the winter without discomfort."