Creating Custom Gear with Adaptive Rider Holly Palmer

March 26, 2021

A group of four people, three standing and one sitting on a ski chair, are posed on a snowy mountain slope. They are wearing custom gear and smiling. Snow-covered mountains and pine trees are visible in the background under a clear blue sky. Holly Palmer is among them, showcasing her adaptive rider skills.

We’ve got a new hero. Her name is Holly Palmer, and she’s overcome more than most riders typically face in order to feel the freedom of sliding sideways. The mountain she’s had to overcome isn’t a black diamond or some peak in Alaska. It’s something she was born with called Achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that prevents the changing of cartilage (particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs) into bone. It manifests in characteristics such as dwarfism, limited range of motion, large head size—all of which present unique challenges in the context of snowboarding. But we love challenges, and so does Holly.

Many of the challenges Holly has faced have revolved around gear. Does it fit? Can she get the gear on and off easily? Does it function in a way that supports her riding? Does she feel good using it? This is where our product development and prototyping teams come in, as well as our partners at Microsoft.

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