By Kelsey Hammerel
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Deaf Snowboarding
Ever since I was eleven years old, I have enjoyed the sport of snowboarding.
This current 2008-2009 season I received a season’s pass to both Northstar
and Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resorts; and spent every spare minute away from work
up at the mountain. My interest in ASL on the other hand began almost three
years ago in my ASL 1 class. I am currently in an ASL 2 class and exploring
the commonalities between the deaf culture and snowboarding.
According to an online forum, various deaf and hard of hearing snowboarders
described the only difference between the hearing and non-hearing is the
concept of balance. One member of the website mentioned that with sounds,
those who can hear balance even with eyes closed. For the deaf community,
that balance is unstable, making it difficult to snowboard or ski. That same
individual stated, “I replaced my sound with relaxing. No worries, my mind
isn't on anything. My mind is clear, no sounds, just me and the snow beneath
the board that I'm riding.” (Alldeaf, 2008).
One option for those who are deaf or hard of hearing and would like
experience snowboarding is to take lessons from a fluent or accredited ASL
instructor. One resort that offers these lessons is the Aspen resort in
Aspen, Colorado. During the course of my research I also found the United
States Deaf Ski and Snowboard Association (USDSSA). This non-profit
organization in comprised of deaf and hard of hearing skiers and
snowboarders, founded in 1968. “USDSSA is a National Sports Organization (NSO)
member of the USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) and recognized by U.S. Ski
& Snowboard Association (USSA).” (http://www.icdri.org/Sports/usdssa.htm).
The athletes of the USDSSA participate at an elite level every four years in
the Deaflympics. Founder, Eugene Rubens-Alcais had a vision of bringing
together talented deaf athletes to engage in friendly competition to promote
cultural and social interaction within the deaf community. “The games that
started as a small gathering of 148 deaf athletes from nine countries
competing in the International Silent Games in Paris, France, in 1924, have
grown into a global movement.” (CISS, 2009). Competing participants must be
deaf, defined as a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in the better ear (3-tone
frequency average at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hertz, ISO 1964 Standard).
(Technical rules, 2006). Just recently, the 2007 deaflympic winter games in
Salt Lake City had more than 600 participants and officials. There are three
events that are judged in the snowboarding section of the Deaflympics; the
parallel giant slalom, the snowboard cross, and the half-pipe. The parallel
slalom includes a course of 25 gates and is mandatory for participants to
wear a helmet and aerodynamic suit. The snowboard cross is a relatively new
event, with moguls, jumps, and sharp turns incorporated. It is raced in
groups of four, and lasts about 40-70 seconds. The last event, the half-pipe
is designed to evaluate 5-8 tricks performed by the athletes where 5 judges
give a 1-10 score for their execution. The 17th winter Deaflympics will be
held in 2011 in High Tetras, Slovakia.
I am impressed that the Deaflympics have become the fast growing sports
events and oldest after the Olympics. It’s great that deaf and hard of
hearing athletes can engage in the same kinds of competitive sports as
hearing individuals. Aside from the competitive aspect, I think skiing or
snowboarding would be a good experience for all deaf people; especially if
there were more trained ASL instructors and resort staff members. Deaf
snowboarders may not be able to hear voices as their going down the slopes,
but who needs to when you can enjoy feeling the wind on your face and the
snow beneath you!
Sources
All deaf – (2008). Deaf
Snowboarders HELP! Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
(2008). Meet
the Pros – Adaptive. Aspen Skiing Company.
(2008). The
U.S.
Deaf Ski & Snowboard Association.
International
Center
for Disability Resources on the
Internet.
Technical rules
– (2006). General Technical Rules – Winter Deaflympics. International
Committee of Sports for the Deaf.
CISS – (2009). News. International Committee of Sports for the Deaf .
Lauren Brizzi
4/28/2008
Deaf Snowboarding
Skiing and Snowboarding have always been a part of my life. Ski trips
were weekly with my dad during the winter. I absolutely love the sport and I
am currently an officer in the Sac State Ski and Snowboard Club. ASL 1 has
taught me a lot about the signing community and because I enjoy snowboarding
and skiing so much I wanted to research what these two had in common. After
some research I came across the United States Deaf Ski and Snowboard
Association (USDSSA). This organization was founded in 1968 with 45 members.
By laws were formed and officers were voted in. They were to meet every two
years and membership fees would cover office supplies and medals. In 1970
members decided to join the "American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD,
now known as USA Deaf Sports Federation) in order to participate in the
Winter World Games for the Deaf, and to bid to host the Winter World Games
for the Deaf at Lake Placid, New York in 1975."
(http://www.usdssa.org/History.html)
The USDSSA formed a ski week convention, soon hearing people learned
about the convention and then formed there own US Ski Association
convention. At these conventions the deaf members urged ski patrol companies
to carry pen and paper with them when on the mountain so they could
communicate with deaf skiers and snowboarders. Throughout the last 30 years
this association has become quite notable in helping members get into the
Winter Deaflympics. The Deaflympics is one of the fastest growing sports in
the world. The Deaflympics were started in 1924 by Eugene Rubens-Alcais and
known then as the silent games. The Silent Games were the first for any
group of people with disabilities. In 2007 there were over 96 countries
registered to compete in the Deaflympics. "Over 600 athletes and officials
participated in the 16th Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, United States
in February 2007." (http://www.deaflympics.com/about/)
Slovakia will hold the 17th Deaflympics in February 2011. Unlike the
Olympics the Deaflympics have few regulations to compete. To compete you
must be, Deaf, defined as a hearing loss of at least 55 dB per tone average
in the better ear (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hertz, ISO
1969 Standard) AND Members of an affiliated National Deaf Sports Federation
and citizens of that country. The Deaflympics has Sportsman and Sportswoman
of the year, currently Amanda Goyne from USA is the title holder for Alpine
Skiing. She brought home 3 medals in 2003 and she is 2 in the US Ski and
Snowboard Association by her age group in the slalom and giant slalom
events. To be deaf and a skier or snowboarder should not be too challenging
because it is more of an individual sport. I think that all ski patrols at
all mountains should carry pen and paper so they can communicate with deaf
skiers. It is amazing that the Deaflympics has become such a popular sport.
I would recommend skiing or snowboarding to any deaf or hearing person it is
such a tranquil thing to do. To be on the mountain with nothing but blue
skies, fresh powder, and your board strapped to your feet is the best
feeling in the world. Nothing is stopping you, its you and the mountain!