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Snow Sports

Snowsports offer many physical, social and emotional benefits for children with disabilities, including children with autism. Adaptive snow sports, like skiing, snowboarding and sit skiing, can help improve children’s motor skills, boost self-esteem, and enhance quality of life. While adaptive snow sports have grown in popularity, there is limited research on this topic. Some research highlights benefits of structured and adaptive snow sports for individuals with disabilities:

Development Skills

Teamwork

Cognitive Skills

Motor Skills

Benefits

  • Adaptive snow sports offer great benefits and offer inclusive spaces for kids and young adults with disabilities. They can build confidence and promote outdoor fun. 1’2’3
  • Adaptive skiing and snowboarding improve balance, coordination, and endurance. They help kids make friends and boost social skills. 3’4
  • Snowsports can help children feel better about themselves. They lower anxiety and improve wellbeing. 1,3
  • Winter sports can help children build outdoor skills, gain independence, and boost problem-solving skills.  Adaptive equipment and special instruction can assist with this. 2’5’4

Benefits Specific to Individuals with Autism

  • Activities such as skating or skiing challenge balance and coordination, supporting the development of fine and gross motor skills, which can develop later for children with ASD. 1  
  • Many winter sports programs are structured with routines, clear instructions, and predictable outcomes elements that are especially beneficial for children with ASD. 1
  • Exposure to nature and rhythmic physical movement in winter settings has been shown to lower anxiety and support emotional regulation in children with ASD. 1
  • Participating in group-based winter activities encourages communication, cooperation, and turn-taking, helping children with ASD build social relationships in a fun, structured environment. 6
  • Mastering new skills like skiing or sledding can enhance a child’s self-confidence and sense of accomplishment. 1
  • A study of a community-based adaptive downhill skilling program that included individuals with ASD (11%) reported improvements in ski skills as well as in social, emotional, physical and independence measures. 1

Risks

Risks Associated with Winter Sports

Participating in winter sports does carry some inherent risks. These risks include physical injuries, environmental hazards, and poor weather conditions.

General Risks:

  • Snowsports can lead to injuries such as fractures, sprains, and concussions. Among skiiers, knee injuries are most common while wrist injuries are most common among snowboarders.2’4,7
  • Extreme cold and icy conditions increase the risk of frostbite, hypothermia, and risk of falls.1’8
  • The bright snow, chilly air, and crowded ski resorts can challenge children with sensory sensitivities.3
  • Poor visibility, twilight conditions, and unmaintained trails can lead to slips and falls, and increased injury risk.7

Specific Risks for Individuals with Autism:

  • Difficulties with motor planning and balance among those with autism can increase the risk of falls and injuries.2’4
  • Some participants feel fear or anxiety when trying new physical activities, including worries about the risk of falling.1’3
  • Places such as ski hills often involve loud noises, rapid movements, crowded spaces, and unfamiliar routines, which can lead to sensory overload or distress that may not be easily communicated by those with autism. As a result, instructors or caregivers might struggle to recognize when support is needed, increasing the risk of physical or emotional discomfort for participants. 1’2’8

Strategies for Safe Outdoor for all Children

General Strategies for All Participants:

Specific Strategies for Individuals with Autism

Children with ASD can benefit from adaptive snow sport programs:

  • Adaptive sports instructors are trained to provide tailored coaching and safety tips to participants.4’6
  • Instruction that focuses on student needs can help participants feel supported and safe to fully take part in their lessons. 3
  • Adaptive gear, such as sit-skis, tethers, and outriggers, used in adaptive ski programs can boost safety and access for children with disabilities.2
  • Adaptive sports coaches can teach skills in steps to help boost confidence and ability.7
  • Instructors should adjust activities to match participants' skills. They should also add breaks, offer students choices about their lessons and make changes as needed. 4’3,6
  • Clear instructions and visual aids can help children with ASD participants in understanding their tasks and what is expected.1’6
Specific Strategies for Individuals with Autism
  • Taking part in adaptive snow sport can help participants meet new friends and feel included 3.
  • For families, visiting the ski area first can help ease anxiety. Viewing demonstration videos and practicing moves beforehand in a safe way can also help. 2
  • Family support can boost children’s comfort and interest in winter sports programs.1’3
  • A study with BC Snowsport association organizational leaders reported how inclusive programming for snow sports for those with disabilities included appropriate training for volunteer ski coaches (through CADS (Canadian Adaptive Snowsports),customizing lessons for individual ski students, and working with the host resorts to support participation and accessibility.4

Additional Resources

Canadian Ski Council

Canadian Ski Council - this organization aims to increase participation in skiing and snowboarding in Canada and focusses on marketing and promotion, research and development, communication and cooperation and advocacy. Canada Ski Council provides safety information Website: https://www.skicanada.org/safety/

Provides information about common injuries, risk factors and prevention of injuries.

CADS:https://cads.ski/en/festival

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https://www.skicanada.org/safety/
Canadian Ski Council

Canadian Ski Council - this organization aims to increase participation in skiing and snowboarding in Canada and focusses on marketing and promotion, research and development, communication and cooperation and advocacy. Canada Ski Council provides safety information Website: https://www.skicanada.org/safety/

Provides information about common injuries, risk factors and prevention of injuries.

CADS:https://cads.ski/en/festival

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https://www.skicanada.org/safety/
Canadian Ski Patrol

Canadian Ski Patrol - an organization with over 4,500 volunteers that provides education, safety promotion, first-aid training and provide services in many resorts in Canada.

Website:https://www.skipatrol.ca/documents-policies/

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https://www.skipatrol.ca/documents-policies/
BC Adaptive Snowsports (BCAS):

BC Adaptive Snowsports supports individuals with disabilities in accessing skiing and snowboarding opportunities across British Columbia. They offer adaptive programs at various resorts, promoting inclusion, physical activity, and confidence-building in winter sports.

To find an adaptive ski program in your area in BC, go to https://bcadaptive.com/and check under ‘Find a Club’ There are 16 adaptive ski clubs available in BC.

1.     Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks (ASSP) https://adaptivesportsatsunpeaks.org/

2.     Adaptive Snow Sports at Apex https://pimbc.ca/apex-adaptive-snow-sports/

3.     Caledonia Adaptive Snowsports Society(CASS) https://www.caledoniaadaptive.ca/wordpress/

4.     East Kootenays Adaptive Snowsports (EKAS) https://ekas.club/

5.     Fernie Adaptive Snow Program (FIRE) https://www.fernieadaptiveski.ca/

6.     Mt Baldy Blue Jays https://pimbc.ca/baldy_bluejays_adaptive/

7.     Northern Adaptive Snowsports Program(NASP) https://hudsonbaymountain.com/  

8.     Panorama Adaptive Snow Sports (PASS) https://www.panoramaresort.com/explore/adaptive-programs

9.     Powderhounds Adaptive Snowsports(PHAS) https://pimbc.ca/powderhounds/

10.  Red Adaptive https://www.redresort.com/school/

11.  Revelstoke Adaptive Sports (RAD) https://adaptiveskiing.net/clubs/alpine-skiing/revelstoke-adaptive-sports-program

12.  Sasquatch Mountain Resort https://sasquatchmountain.ca/

13.  Silver Star Adaptive Snow Sports (SSASS) https://www.ssass.bc.ca/

14.  Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports (VASS) https://vass.ca/

15.  Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports (VISAS)

16.  Whistler Adaptive Sports Program(WASP) https://whistleradaptive.com/

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https://bcadaptive.com/

References

  1. Barton, S. M., McLaughlin, M. J.,& Fisher, M. T. (2025). Improvement on the slopes: The impact of an adaptive snow sports program on children and young adults with disabilities. Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, 18(1), 42–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/18758894241290054
  2. Frumberg, D., Gerk,A., Autruong, P., Flynn, K., Pan, Z., & Chang, F. (2019). Adaptive skiing/snowboarding affects the quality of life of children with disabilities. Palaestra, 33(3),21.
  3. Mavritsakis, O., Treschow, M.,Labbé, D., Bethune, A., & Miller, W. C. (2021). Up on the hill: The experiences of adaptive snow sports. Disability and Rehabilitation,43(15), 2219–2226.
  4. Mannella, S., Labbé,D., Bundon, A., Sauve, J., McBride, C. B., Best, K., Yung, O., & Miller, W.C. (2023). Access at elevation: Strategies used to support participation for people with disabilities in adaptive snow sports. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 43, 100685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2023.100685
  5. Lindsay, S., Morales, E., Yantzi,N., Vincent, C., Howell, L., & Edwards, G. (2015). The experiences of participating in winter among youths with a physical disability compared with their typically developing peers. Child: Care, Health and Development, 41(6),980–988.
  6. Nasuti, G., & Temple, V. A.(2010). The risks and benefits of snow sports for people with disabilities: A review of the literature. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 33(3), 193–198.
  7. Wu, Y., Dai, R., Yan, W., Ren, S.,& Ao, Y. (2023). Characteristics of sports injuries in athletes during the Winter Olympics: A systematic review and meta-analysis. SAGE Publications Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 11(12).. https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671231209286
  8. Suresh, S. (2006). Winter sports injuries: Patterns of injury-preventive measures. Consultant for Pediatricians, 5(3), 168.‍
  9.  Active and Safe Central - https://activesafe.ca/skiing/

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