"I just knew the difference between something that's really made for me and fits, and something that's just off the shelf. Looking for a more custom seat for his ski rig, Williams applied his expertise in mold making for prosthetic legs to the bucket seat of his sit-ski. He wants a precise contoured fit that doesn't need additional padding."
"Foam padding, he explains, can impede the transfer of energy from the athlete to the snow. It's like driving your car with the tires underinflated, right? You're gonna turn the wheel, but it just feels a little soft and squishy. It's not gonna respond right away."
"Williams gets that snug fit for himself and others by creating a mold of their lower body in his shop in Park City, Utah. Then he builds the rigid seat around it with layers of carbon fiber and other fabrics that harden with epoxy. He also used fiberglass and strategically-placed strips of Kevlar."
Paralympic athletes competing in winter sports often require customized prosthetics and equipment because standard off-the-shelf options don't adequately meet individual needs. Zach Williams, a U.S. para alpine skier and licensed prosthetist, applies his expertise in prosthetic mold-making to create custom sit-ski seats using carbon fiber, fiberglass, and Kevlar. His precision-contoured approach eliminates excess padding that can reduce energy transfer to the snow. Mike Schultz, a Paralympic snowboarder, similarly pursues custom prosthetic solutions focused on suspension for high-impact sports. Both athletes leverage their technical knowledge and personal experience with amputation to innovate equipment that enhances performance and responsiveness in their respective disciplines.
#paralympic-athletes #custom-prosthetics #winter-sports-equipment #adaptive-technology #disability-innovation
Read at www.npr.org
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