EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN PARA SLIDING

BLACKSBURG, VA. (January 8, 2025) — Engineering students at Virginia Tech are making history by helping an injured veteran become the first one-handed athlete to steer a bobsled—pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport.

The journey began when Army Veteran David Snypes, Jr., who lost his arm in a motorcycle accident, attended a Team USA Para Bobsled camp. This raised an important question: Can an athlete with limited upper-limb mobility steer a bobsled? A team of Virginia Tech engineering students set out to find the answer.

Traditionally, bobsledders use two ropes to steer, which presents a challenge for athletes with only one arm. Para bobsledding has historically been open to athletes with lower body or back injuries, but the sport had not been adapted for one-armed athletes—until now. For their senior design project, the students took on the challenge of developing a one-handed steering system for Snypes.

After initial testing by Team USA Para Bobsled pilot DJ Skelton on the Lake Placid track, it was Snypes’ turn to drive the sled himself. He successfully navigated the technically demanding course, marking a historic milestone. For the first time ever, an athlete steered a bobsled with just one arm—breaking down a long-standing barrier in the sport. This achievement wasn’t just a technical success—it demonstrated the potential for adaptive sports to evolve in ways once thought impossible.

Snypes’ accomplishment highlighted both his own resilience and the dedication of the engineering team, who worked tirelessly to create a solution that empowers athletes with physical impairments. By becoming the first one-handed athlete to steer a bobsled, Snypes didn’t just make history—he opened the door for future athletes with physical impairments to participate in the sport.

Building on this success, a new team of students is now working to refine the steering system further. Their goal is to design a lift mechanism and ensure the one-handed system can safely handle higher speeds, stronger g-forces, and accommodate athletes starting from any position or using either hand.

QL Plus, a nonprofit that connects engineering students with veterans to create adaptive technologies, has played a key role in facilitating this collaboration.

Mark Robbins, Executive Director of QL Plus, said, “At QL Plus, we’re privileged to connect brilliant engineering students with brave veterans to create life-changing innovations like the one-handed bobsled. Watching these students tackle challenges that directly impact someone’s life—and seeing the joy their work brings—is incredibly rewarding. This work goes far beyond engineering; it’s about making a real difference and supporting our nation’s veterans.”

“The human spirit is truly remarkable, and it’s incredible to see how the Bobsled/Skeleton community is pushing the limits of what athletes can achieve,” said DJ Skelton, a member of the US Para Bobsled team. “Can an athlete with no legs bobsled? One arm? One eye? Absolutely! We’re proving it—and making history in the process.”

“Being part of this effort to create more opportunities for athletes in sliding sports is an honor,” Skelton added.

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About USA Bobsled/Skeleton

USA Bobsled/Skeleton is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton racing in the United States. Based in Lake Placid, NY, USA Bobsled/Skeleton oversees the development and training of American athletes at all levels of competition.