I've come to Dorset Orthopaedic, a private company that fits amputees with prosthetic legs, from running blades to hyperrealistic looking limbs. One sport that's always been very hard for me is snowboarding, because my normal feet are designed specifically for walking.
But here they have got some feet that could make that easier. The requirement for a foot is quite different from skiing compared to walking. With normal walking you need a foot which has a very small range of movement but gives you a lot of energy back. With skiing you need a lot more movement in the foot to compensate for the uneven surface.
While I'm left to my own devices, Kevin agrees to fit my legs with some of these feet so I can give them a go. This requires a lot of honing and alignment to make sure I'm not pushed too forward or backwards. My legs. So I'm quite intrigued as to how these are gonna feel, I actually have no idea.
Oh, wow. Oh, wow, oh yeah, there. That sensation I've not felt in the ten years since being an amputee. These feet work by putting air into an adjustable cylinder which controls the amount of resistance in the foot.
More air and more resistance. As well as giving these movements, shock absorption in the foot means that going over bumps and rocks is easier. But That's not cheap. With a price of 2,500 pounds each, it means only some people can get access to them.
There's only thing left to do and it's try the feet out on some proper snow. I've come to an indoor slope, but I've got to admit I'm feeling very nervous. When I've snowboarded previously on my normal walking feet it's been really difficult, but these offer much more. And the way they're set up offers a natural bend in my knees, a stance that is almost impossible on my usual legs. OK, here we go. And a turn.
Despite the technology of these feet there's only so much they can do when it comes to hitting the slopes, the real work is definitely still coming from the person, and if you're not very good, they're not going to stop you from falling.