Building a Better Sled: VA Tech Students Advance USA Para-Skeleton Innovation
Virginia Tech student Taiyo Watt with the skeleton frame
High speeds, sharp turns, and sheer adrenaline—skeleton racing is one of the most thrilling winter sports in the world. But for injured or disabled veterans competing in para-skeleton, the challenge goes beyond the ice. Proper weight distribution and precise control are critical for both safety and performance, yet adaptive athletes often face limitations in sled design. That’s where QL Plus and a team of Virginia Tech engineering students come in.
As part of their senior capstone project, students Makenzie Bourne and Taiyo Watt are developing a weight distribution system designed to enhance safety and performance for injured or disabled veterans competing in para-skeleton—a high-speed, high-intensity winter sport. With skeleton athletes reaching speeds of up to 80 mph and experiencing up to 5 Gs of pressure, balance and control are essential. Their system will allow athletes to quickly adjust weight placement within the sled, improving stability and responsiveness on the track.
Recently, Makenzie and Taiyo hit an exciting milestone: test-fitting parts and practicing welding. With lab space at Virginia Tech at full capacity, a local auto body shop generously donated space and time to help them refine their welding skills. The students first cut test pieces for their weight distribution system, and Makenzie practiced MIG welding to prepare for assembling the final trays that will sit inside the sled. Next up, they’ll have their final components laser-cut before completing the assembly.
Virginia Tech student Makenzie Bourne using a cutoff wheel to cut pieces for test fitting
This project is part of a larger effort to make para-skeleton more accessible to adaptive athletes. Alongside the weight distribution system, the Virginia Tech team is also working on a hand-controlled braking mechanism to allow below-knee amputees to simulate the essential toe-tapping motion used in skeleton steering and braking. These innovations will help more injured veterans compete safely at the highest level—and could even support the inclusion of para-skeleton in the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy.
We are incredibly proud of Makenzie, Taiyo, and the entire Virginia Tech team for their dedication to solving real-world challenges through engineering. Their work is a testament to the power of innovation, teamwork, and the mission of QL Plus.
Stay tuned for more updates as these talented students bring their designs to life!
