Two Team USA alpine skiers will use the Toyota Sit-Ski at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. (Photos courtesy of Toyota USA)
Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Racing Development Create Sit-Ski for Use by U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing
Toyota announced today on the opening of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games its technologically advanced Toyota Sit-Ski.
Seven-time Paralympic medalist Laurie Stephens and two-time Paralympic medalist Andrew Kurka are the two Team USA alpine skiers who are set to compete in the Toyota Sit-Ski at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. The competitions begin today and will run through March 13.
“There is no better global event than the Paralympics for Toyota to reinforce our passionate belief that everyone has the right to freedom of movement in an inclusive society,” Lisa Materazzo, group vice president, Toyota Marketing, Toyota Motor North America, said in a release.
A team of engineers and technicians developed a sit-ski from the bottom up.
The monoski was developed by Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Racing Development USA. A behind-the-scenes look at the engineering and technology that went into the rig can be viewed at ToyotaSitSki.com. The multi-episode video series was created in partnership with Media.Monks, a Toyota production partner in the U.S.
“There’s a lot of pressure on me especially going into Beijing to not only win but to represent my country and to set myself up for the future,” said Kurka, who is also a Team Toyota athlete. “I’m a very particular sit-skier because my life is on the line when I’m out there and I want to make sure that not only am I safe, but I’m fast. Win, lose or draw, the Toyota Sit-Ski is an awesome monoski.”
Toyota created a multi-episode video series about sit-ski project.
Real-World Testing
Testing of the monoski began in late 2019. Five-time Paralympian Chris Devlin-Young lent his expertise in testing the sit-ski and providing feedback along the way. Project focus areas include the suspension system, seating position and fit, and mechanical changes based on the disciplines within para-alpine skiing.
“It will be an incredible moment when we see the Toyota Sit-Ski come down the hill for the first time in Paralympic competition given the team’s heart and soul that has gone into this project,” David Wilson, group vice president and president, Toyota Racing Development USA, said in the release.
Paralympian Andrew Kurka contributes to the Toyota Sit-Ski project.
Toyota and the Paralympic Movement
Toyota has been an active supporter of Paralympic athletes and adaptive sports.
In 2015, the company became the official worldwide mobility partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Committees for the 2017-2024 period.
In addition, Toyota is a proud partner of Team USA and several Paralympic National Governing Bodies and Paralympic national teams, including:
- The National Wheelchair Basketball Association;
- U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing;
- U.S. Paralympics Cycling;
- U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing;
- U.S. Paralympics Snowboarding;
- U.S. Paralympics Swimming;
- U.S. Paralympics Track & Field;
- USA Curling and the USA Wheelchair National Curling Team ;
- USA Hockey and the U.S. National Sled Team; and
- USA Triathlon and the Toyota U.S. Paratriathlon National Team.
Toyota also has long-standing relationships with Adaptive Action Sports and Challenged Athletes Foundation. In addition, Toyota has featured two U.S. Paralympians in Big Game commercials (Amy Purdy in 2015 and Jessica Long in 2021).
The innovative Toyota Sit-Ski in action.
Toyota U.S. Paralympic Fund
To date, more than 430 U.S. Paralympic athletes and hopefuls have received direct support from the more than $4.9 million raised for the Toyota U.S. Paralympic Fund. Toyota is also offering opportunities to athletes named to the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Tokyo and Beijing Games.
