Feature

igus plain bearings help adaptive skier find the fast lane

Like every competitive athlete, Christopher Young stays acutely attuned to his equipment. Whether it is motorsport, cycling, skiing or any other event where equipment plays an important role in performance, athletes can feel instantly when their equipment is working properly…and when it is not.

02/03/2020 14:23:34

In Young’s case, however, the margin for error is uniquely tight. As an adaptive skier, who reaches speeds of 70mph, Young relies on his mono-ski to keep him competitive and safe. He has significant and rare athletic gifts, but his racing career could come crashing down at any moment if his sled malfunctions.

“My life, literally, depends on the equipment not breaking,’’ says Young. “There are some places on ski slopes where falling is not an option. If you fall, you could drop off a cliff, it is the end, goodbye.”

For the past seven years, Young has been using equipment made by DynAccess Ltd., a Pennsylvania business that designs and manufactures outdoor equipment for physically challenged individuals and athletes. Joachim Grenestedt works as the Chief Engineer and Product Designer for DynAccess, while his wife, Channy Tokura, runs the business side.

Read the full article in the March issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.