Since I was 7 years old I have loved to water ski. Just ask my mom about the size of the smile on my face if I am being pulled around behind a boat. I learned to water ski at camp in Wisconsin. I joined an amateur show ski team back home in Florida called the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees and did competitions and shows for the public starting when I was 10 years old. I started water skiing professionally when I was 16 at Cypress Gardens in Florida. After I graduated from College with a degree in Theater, I figured show skiing was performance, maybe I should get back into it... That is when I started skiing at Sea World in San Antonio.
Like I said, I LOVE water skiing! Everyone should have the opportunity to experience what it is like to glide over the water, get sprayed in the face and have the wind in their hair. It is one of the best sensations there is as far as I am concerned. This is what struck me at my first "All Can Ski" experience; I saw the faces of the participants light up like I know mine does when I am on the water. The smiles, the pure joy and the exhilaration are unparalleled. I know what that feels like and I love to share that feeling with as many people as possible, but especially those who may assume that because of their disability that opportunities such as these are not available to them.
Texas Adaptive Aquatics brings water skiing to the disabled through the use of specialized water skiing equipment called "sit skis". The Sit Ski was brought over from Europe in the early 80's and modified in the late 80's by Royce Andes, a barefoot skier that became a high level quadriplegic after a ski accident. Texas Adaptive Aquatics (TAA) uses 5 different styles of sit skis. They have one for very high level quadriplegics, one for beginner skiers, one for intermediates and one for advanced skiers and competitions as well as a trick ski for advanced skiers.
This year I regrettably was not on the Sea World Ski Team. I did however volunteer for the 3 day All Can Ski event held August 25th to 27th. Once again it was brilliant! I got sunburnt, bruised and waterlogged and I loved every minute of it. The participants of all different ages and disabilities are amazing, brave and inspirational people to work with, the staff of Texas Adaptive Aquatics and San Antonio Sports are such good people that words fail to do them justice and the camaraderie that I found in my fellow volunteers was wonderful as well; I'm pretty sure I even made some new friends.
All Can Ski is an event that I hope to participate in annually and Texas Adaptive Aquatics is an organization that I hope to volunteer with frequently. To find out more about All Can Ski and similar events, check out www.taasports.org and www.sanantoniosports.org/allcanski.
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