Milano Cortina 2026: Mike Schultz on Para snowboard prosthetics and equipment
Three-time Paralympic medallist Mike Schultz pushes the limits on the snowboard using the prosthetic leg he developed 10 Feb 2026
When USA Para snowboard veteran Mike Schultz and his competitors hit the slopes at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, there is a possibility that whoever makes it to the podium could be wearing a prosthetic limb he designed.
Schultz says that around 25 Para athletes at the Paralympics are expected to wear equipment he developed. Four years ago, at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, more than 20 athletes competed with his gear, he says.
“It's kind of a double-edged sword because I'm creating equipment that's making my competitors faster. But...it's win-win, like whether I'm on the podium or not, I know that somebody that's using our equipment will be, so it's great for my business either way,” he told the IPC from Minnesota.
“I personally assemble all the legs that go out and being able to see the best athletes in the world, choose our equipment is awesome.”
Developing a prosthetic leg
Schultz had a major knee injury in 2008 in a snowmobile competition and subsequently had to have his left leg above the knee amputated.
Keen to get back into extreme sports, he was dissatisfied with the existing prosthetics on the market, so he got busy in his shed, designed his own leg and built a small business in 2010.
“My mind has always thought mechanically, since a very young age, and I'm always intrigued by how things work and how I can make them better,” he said.
“Originally, I developed it for motocross – dirt bike racing and snowmobile racing, and then I was contacted by a military veteran who was an amputee who did adaptive snowboarding and he saw me racing snowmobiles. So he's wondering if it works for snowboarding. And I'm like, I don't know.”
It became a turning point for Schultz, who quickly took up snowboarding himself, which is now the focal point of his athletic career.
His equipment is now in hot demand and can be used for up to six years.
The prosthetic legs are also used for mountain biking, water skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, horse riding and gym work.
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Para snowboard prosthetic 101
So how does a prosthetic leg for snowboarding differ from a prosthetic leg for daily use?
He said his everyday walking leg has a computer in it and a hydraulic system that controls how quickly it reacts to his movement.
“The foot that I walk on is made of... multi layers of composite. It's a spring, basically. There's no hydraulics in the foot itself, so it compresses and springs back really quick,” he said.
The knee has to swing back and forth, and once it is flexed, there is no spring extending it forward, Schultz said.
“Now I can't really walk very well in my snowboard leg simply because it doesn't swing back and forth, it's it stays straight until I shift weight into it,” he said.
“My snowboard leg, it has a shock in it with hydraulic dampening and a spring which works like my quadricep muscles. So when it sits by itself it's fully extended and in order to flex it I have to shift weight to compress it and the spring rate is adjustable or the resistance rate is adjustable and that helps me for example, when I'm flying through the air and landing on the ground again, it absorbs that impact and then it helps extend it straight again.”
What makes Schultz’ prosthetic legs stand out from others on the market is the ability to adjust and tune it to different scenarios.
“When we're talking snowboarding specifically, depending on if you ride with your prosthesis in the front or back, we can change the alignment,” he said.
“For example, when it's the front leg, it's more upright and straight compared to when it's the back leg, which needs to be flexed more.”
“And the range of motion is variable depending on how you want to ride, how much knee flexion range you want, and then the foot also has a hydraulic and pneumatic shock in it. Same as what's in the knee. And that's fully adjustable depending on front or back leg, as well as how aggressive you want to ride with it. So the resistance and alignment can be changed on it as well.”
Schultz rides with his prosthesis as his forward leg.
“I feel it gives me more power to generate speed through the rollers and features on the race course. Exiting a turn, I can use my strong leg or my real leg to absorb and extend to try and accelerate quicker,” he said.
Pushing to new limits
Schultz earned a gold in the men’s snowboard cross SB-LL1 and silver in the banked slalom at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and a silver four years later in snowboard cross at Beijing 2022.
Now 44 years old, Schultz, also known as Monster Mike for his aggressive riding style, is adamant that he still has plenty of gas in the tank, as one of the veterans in his field.
“The biggest asset that I have is the experience through all the different motorsports and competitions I've done. You know, for 27 plus years now overall,” he said.
“I'm not ready to sit on the sidelines and watch everybody else.”
However, he knows the contest will be tight at Milano Cortina 2026, which open on 6 March.
“The competition has been stepping up their game progressively in the last couple of years and I'm trying to keep up. I'm still very competitive,” he said.
“The margins are so close now with the top six or seven riders in our class, which is incredible to see in our sport, but man, it's pushing me to new limits, that's for sure.”
Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.
For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org
