Tandem snowboarding

[LeeW]

Whats your experience with tandem snowboarding instructing with the beginners?

EDIT: Oops, I accidentally changed the entire page of this first msg and revert it back to original post. -sigh-

[northcoast]

If you mean tandem as in riding together then yes. However, only if I'm the one riding with them and when it is absolutely necessary. I do use it with my advanced students to teach control, teamwork, and a tool for improving switch riding. It's pretty cool seeing linked turns and linked flatspin 360's done while two people are holding hands.
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[philfell]

Not what you are talking about, but I have made some runs with on of my friends who had the same size boots as me and was also regular. We took our two G.S. boards one would buckle into both front bindings and the other would buckle into both rear bindings and we would make "ski" type turns, wedging would work with a tall flexible person in the back, teamwork was key.

[LeeW]

Yea, that's the tandem Im talkinga bout. Saw a photo of the "only" couple of surfing tandem, and then saw the alpine tandem snowboarding. Thought I'd ask around. Looks like fun, as well.

[LeeW]

Im gonna revive this thread.

I wonder if this approach would be suitable, considering a friend/client of mine is deaf and blind. There's several ideas thrown on how to approach this angle. Tandem snowboarding is what I got in mind, and ideallistically, it looks very very apealling-- a long snowboard with hardboots with him behind me. Like two person on one motorcycle.

Any comments, ideas ?

[LeeW]

Originally posted by Kent
Yes, I teach both tandem snowboarding and cow tipping as a combined class......

And Kent, WHAT is cow tipping?

[LeeW]

Originally posted by northcoast
If you mean tandem as in riding together then yes. However, only if I'm the one riding with them and when it is absolutely necessary. I do use it with my advanced students to teach control, teamwork, and a tool for improving switch riding. It's pretty cool seeing linked turns and linked flatspin 360's done while two people are holding hands.

This is -NOT- what I had in mind. What I had in mind was two person wearing hardboots riding on ONE long snowboard.

[rick ferguson]

If you are that challenged, try nailing some construction boots to a sheet of plywood and have a dance party on it while going down the slopes! Certain sports were designed to be SOLO! Let's just re-invent the wheel. If the blind want to now what it feel's like to slide on the snow, put them on a saucer. I'm not being mean, just realistic. Sensory activity is what they need and want, tandem snowboarding is a false impression of thier freedom to feel power. Put'em on a tube run where it is safe and let them FEEL the power of the slide solo! If someone is that poor of a rider, and NOT blind , they should try another sport. I've given surf lesson's and some people just are'nt cut out to do it , otherwise we would all be surfer's/ hardboot carver's!!!! It take's a special breed to develop the skill's , don't dillute the method in which it works.

[fin]

Here ya go (below):

There was actually a company in Europe promoting this as an actual sport and they made special hardware just for this. At somepoint I did have a vid clip, have to see if I can find that.

I can only imagine what a big crash on that looks like! :eek:

[rick ferguson]

Big crash is what I imagine and injury to one or both, it's nice that you (LEEW) want to get your blind / deaf friend on the slope's , but this may not be the way. We all have limitation's and must live and work with what is realistic. As I suggested, your sport is carving/snowboarding, but it really can't be your friends. I am sorry for his/her situation and wish it could be changed, but give them a safe alterative to a snow experience. It's about sensory and IDEPENDANCE!!! A snow tube, saucer or even ski's would be a better idea. And if you have'nt been on a modern snow tube lately, you'll be shocked on the ride, blind or not, you'll be amazed-good fun to all

[NateW]

I'd love to see that video.

I could see that being a lot of fun, but I could also see it being very, very painful. And arguing over whose fault the crashes are... that would never end.

[bobdea]

and tether him
check out maine handicapped skiing
skimhs.org

[tigger]

hi everybody, i found pictures of of a snowboardcamp for blind Kids, and i heard about snowboardinstructors that ride with handicaped people on a tandemboards.
in this case they are connected with a beltsysthem.

[Michelle]

I think you have to be REAL good friends to ride that board that Fin posted!

However, I do think it's awesome that we can give people with handicaps a chance to experience what we all take for granted. Best of luck Lee!

[nils]

In 1988 awsome movie Cannon Surf II, featuring Jean Nerva and Regis Rolland among others, there is a great tandem sequence of Jean riding in pow pow with a nice brunette... She is in front since it seems from the vid that he is doing the driving ( he is jean nerva after all) !!!

They do huge turns and also crash nicely ( in the powder thu..). They were both wearing the old snowboarder from raichle on the movie ( white an green / violet boots)...
I'll try to post a few frame grabs asap!

I'd definitely try to introduce a blind/deaf friend to this, if he is not heavier than me thu... and put him / her on the front !
Because the balance seems very slow motion, and once the weight is at the wrong place, it gets down quick!

Nils

[LeeW]

Originally posted by rick ferguson
If you are that challenged, try nailing some construction boots to a sheet of plywood and have a dance party on it while going down the slopes! Certain sports were designed to be SOLO! Let's just re-invent the wheel. If the blind want to now what it feel's like to slide on the snow, put them on a saucer. I'm not being mean, just realistic. Sensory activity is what they need and want, tandem snowboarding is a false impression of thier freedom to feel power. Put'em on a tube run where it is safe and let them FEEL the power of the slide solo! If someone is that poor of a rider, and NOT blind , they should try another sport. I've given surf lesson's and some people just are'nt cut out to do it , otherwise we would all be surfer's/ hardboot carver's!!!! It take's a special breed to develop the skill's , don't dillute the method in which it works.

For a start, he -IS- a surfer and a longboard rider. Long time resident of La-Jolla oughta tell/hint you that. His eyesights has dwindled badly the last few years. Been deaf all his life as much as I have. Does that still "exempt" him from the so-called special breed ? Mind you, we're still working on another angle to get him to be able to still surf and skateboard, too. He and I once did a team work -- me riding a bicycle while he holds to my shoulder and skate/longboard. So I had to be mindful on watching out those cracks/pebbles on the sidewalk (unless if the wheels are soft). I must say it brought me thrills/happiness/satisfaction I contributed to him to -stay- in the board sports, instead of confining him to "you can't do that anymore. sorry buddy." mentality.

[LeeW]

Originally posted by bobdea
and tether him
check out maine handicapped skiing
skimhs.org

Yea, Im into that kind of stuffs. Im working on entering BOEC (Breckenridge Outdoors Education Center for the disabled) internship program. got experience with those, too. :p :)

Thanks, tho.

[LeeW]

Tigger, do you know the name of the snowboard camp for the blind?

Fin/Michelle, thanks! Perhaps we could hunch together and come up with an equipment with that mills of yours? hehe yep, that's how i found out about tandem snowboarding -- Europe.

nils, i hope i can find video of that age (1988) somehow somewhat.

[tigger]

Hi Lee
the Camp was organised by the Bavarian Blind Assosiation in Germany.
But i found a Page Of a Companie that produces and promotes Tandemsnowboarding.
Thhe Name is http://www.tandemsnowboard-akademie.de
unfortunately it is in german, but i can tell you some facts from their INFO site:
there were european tandem championships held this year, with disabled an non disaled riders, they hope to push the sport to the Paralympics soon,
they also installed their first two tandemteststations in the US in cooperation with some local snowboardskools. There were Tandemboarders at the "sandboarding worldchampionships" in Germany too.
Perhaps well see you and your friend at the next Paralympics. good Luck
PS in the FOTO section you can download some short videos.

[ARCrider]

As long as my carve partner was lighter than my 190lbs.
and as long as the snow was soft to land in!!
Any chance someone could bring a tandem rig to Aspen for the session.(video opportunity)
I ride tandem bicycles. A Santana for the road and a fully suspended KHS for off road adventures. Why not try tandeming on a snowboard.
Any lightweights want to try carving like a freight train?

[boostertwo]

Hi Lee,<p></p>There is a guy we trained with named Bobby Palm who has worked fairly extensively with adaptive snowboarding. I'm afraid I don't have his number, but you can contact him through the <a href="http://www.psia-rm.org/adaptsnowbrd.htm" target="http://www.psia-rm.org/adaptsnowbrd.htm">AASI-RM</a> offices in Steamboat. I don't think he's experimented with tandem riding, but has created quite a few interesting devices to help differently-abled people enjoy snowboarding.<p></p><img src="http://tinypic.com/atpms"> <img src="http://tinypic.com/atppz"><p></p>Best of luck with BOEC this season.<p></p>Cheers,<br>B-2

[LeeW]

Tigger; danke! I'll need to rebrush my german. its been so long since I last studied Deutsch!

boosters; do I know you? I work with Ruth DeMuth occasionally as well as chair 12 last year.

[Neuffy]

I NEED one of those (photo_ispo_tandem_big.jpg)....
I think I just might try to make one if I can come up with a boot solution for non-boarders...

One question though...what weight differential might be required?
Hm..wonder if 40-50 lbs would be enough rear>front...eh..be funny any way you did it, heh.

[scottishboardracer]

I've seen a few people riding tandem in Kaprun (Austria) but they were always standing one regular, one goofy unlike the pics here where both riders are the same stance.

[nils]

Jean is so stylish !
Here is part of the small extract with Jean tandem riding with Mylene Ducloz ( famous mountaineer family) in 1988 movie Cannon Surf II.

please right click on this link and save as! (http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/various/nervatandem.avi)

Movie is encoded in Divx format ( Divx Plug in needed)

Nils

PS: note the other riders are jean-Phi garcia (ex world cup winner i think?) ( red suit ) on a Burton Safari II and also an Apocalypse snowboard freestyle model ( white base ) and yellos suit rider is Regis Rolland himself, riding his Apocalypse snowboard Swallowtail!

[fin]

Nils,

Hey, where can I get the Divx plug-in? Sure enough will not play on the Windows Media Player or Quicktime.

[LeeW]

EDIT: thanks to nils. I had hard time to get it a-running via my Divx. Got the one you suggested. Ahh, its nice to see 'em running.

http://www.divx.com/

I have used this in the past. it helps format older video/audio files (if i got it right by guessworking). Unfortunely as time went on, it turned from freeware to $paying-ware. -shrugs- Maybe I should cough up some bucks for it.

I had no problem seeing it anyways. The video, that is.


Originally posted by fin
Nils,

Hey, where can I get the Divx plug-in? Sure enough will not play on the Windows Media Player or Quicktime.

[nils]

its plays basically all video format :)

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Nils

[Derf]

Originally posted by LeeW

http://www.divx.com/

I have used this in the past. it helps format older video/audio files (if i got it right by guessworking). Unfortunely as time went on, it turned from freeware to $paying-ware. -shrugs- Maybe I should cough up some bucks for it.

I had no problem seeing it anyways. The video, that is. [/B]

I'm regularely using DivX to encode videos, and it is still freeware, it depends if you se all features or not all. For me, freeware mode is sufficient.

Derf