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Snowmobile-Amputee is an informal website based organization
created by Victor Walther. The website is intended to provide
information, encouragement, and inspiration for amputee and
physically challenged snowmobile enthusiasts. The website is also
intended to provide an international venue for amputee snowmobile
enthusiasts to share and promote their accomplishments and
achievements.
The website contains information on snowmobiles modifications
for amputee and disabled snowmobile enthusiasts as well as
information on modified artificial limbs and prosthetic suppliers
and manufacturers.
Snowmobile-Amputee encourages everyone to participate regardless
of ability, disability, age, gender, race, or nationality. There are
no membership fees or special requirements to join or participate,
just a willingness to encourage, inspire, and share information with
others.
If you have modified a snowmobile or know of snowmobile
modifications that could benefit amputee or disabled snowmobile
enthusiasts or if you or anyone you know could benefit from, or would like
to participate on this website, email your enquiries or pictures
and information to: mtb-amputee@mtb-amputee.com
I would like to offer the following tip to
everyone, regardless of your experience or intentions, to visit your
local Snowmobile shops and dealers. They can provide you with advice
on equipment set-up and modifications, as well as information on
trails, clubs, organizations, and lessons.
Although snowmobiling has its own inherent risks, snowmobiles
are very amputee friendly and relatively easy to operate (relative
to speed and terrain). For general information on snowmobiles visit
your local dealers or check out the following websites: Yamaha
; Artic Cat ; Ski
Doo ; Polaris ; International
Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
Snowmobile Modifications:
The following picture was contributed by Bruce Chatwell who
is an above left elbow amputee for over 36years. Bruce has logged
thousands of miles on both his Harley Davidson motorcycle and his
600 Mountain Cat snowmobile. The picture shows his right hand brake
modification.

The set up came from a company called Snobunjie
from Wyoming. Bruce had to do a bit of trimming on the
rubber on the handle bars, drill a hole in brake lever for a
pin to drop through and attach brake cable to it. Works very well as Wilwood hydraulics on the sled and requires very little lever travel
for engagement. Bruce has logged literally thousands of miles
on a snowmobile. (25 years worth)
For more information you can email Bruce at bchatwell@vcn.com
or visit the Motorcycle Amputee
page for pictures of Bruces' clutch modification.
The following right hand brake modifications, was
contributed by Randy.
Click on Photo to enlarge

I bought a master cylinder for a motorcycle, put it
on the right side of my sled.
For more information, you can contact Randy at:
letusride4fun@yahoo.com
Although the following pictures are of a mountain
bike setup, both the arm and the steering wheel adaptor can be used
for snowmobiles as well as motorcycles and ATV's.
Click on pictures to enlarge.

Coincidentally, while I was employed as a snowmaker on
Blackcombe Mtn in 1987-88, I enjoyed using both a snowmobile
& all terrain vehicle as every day work vehicles.
Please note that I am currently waiting for information and
photos from several experienced and novice amputee snowmobile
enthusiasts, and that Snowmobile-Amputee is part of the AmpsCanRide
family of website based organizations which include:
The AmpsCanRide websites are based on the fact that
amputees can ride mountain bikes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and All
Terrain Vehicles. The relationship or common denominator is the fact
that most modified prosthetic limbs and devices can be easily
adapted and used for many different purposes.
For more information on prosthetic modifications and service
providers visit:
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