Biography

Vital Statistics

Birth date: October 16, 1968                Birth place:

Current Residence:                             Bethel, Connecticut

Height:  5'11"                                      Weight:  170 lbs

Occupation:                                       Licensed plumber, woodworker

Began Skiing:  26                                Began Competing:  27

Events:  Slalom, Tricks, Jump

Division:  V1 (Totally blind), slaloms with use of "bat blaster", machine that beeps when skier pulls out far enough to round a slalom turn buoy at proscribed rate of speed (34mph) the rope is shortened once he "makes it" through gates and 6 turn buoys.  Uses a jump guide for jump event.  Guide hold skiers elbow, shouting out distances to the approaching ramp, guide skis around ramp, skier goes over, the meet on the other side.  Injured in a motorcycle accident at age 16

Sponsors:  Challenged Athletes, Bethel Lions Club, American Athletes with Disabilities

Hobbies:  Rock climbing, hiking, reading, canoeing

Career Highlights

• Silver Medal as US TEAM Member at ’01 World Championships in Australia 
• Individual Bronze Medal for Overall ’01 Worlds 
• Individual Silver Medal for Jump ’01 Worlds
• Feature article in Water Ski Magazine, March 2000 issue
• Gold Medal as US TEAM Member at ’99 Worlds in England
• Bronze Medal Overall at '99 World
• Gold Medal in Jump at '99 Worlds
• Second Overall 1999 Nationals
• 1999 National Jump Champion
• Silver in Tricks '99 Nationals
• Silver in Slalom '99 Nationals
• Second Overall 1998 Nationals
• Silver in Tricks '98 Nationals
• Silver in Jump '98 Nationals
• Silver in Slalom '98 Nationals

• Bronze in Jump '97 Nationals

• Bronze in Slalom '97 Nationals

Best Performance

Records

Ski Club Affiliation

Lake Zoar Water Ski Club

Future Career Plans:

Writer

Most fun skiing experience

1999 World Championships in London, England against Mark Hieftje

People I look up to or who have helped me

Mark Hieftje, Joel Zeisler, Kessler - my guide dog

Alan's only been skiing 5 years, competing in 4 National and 2 World Championships.  Al has set records (pending) in jump, also receiving numerous gold medals in jump & slalom.  At earned a Bronze Overall (2001 Worlds),  Silver in Jump, Bronze in both Slalom and Trick.  Al told Spanky that he didn't really like to Trick and then asked Spanky if he'd ski for him at the next Worlds.

Al's stiffest competition comes from fellow team mate Mark Hieftje.  Al is pioneering the use of the Audio Slalom device (Bat Blaster) for bind/visually impaired skiers on the east coast.  Al skis in the VH1 Division, meaning he is totally blind.  Within the ski world, jumping (for blind skiers) is called "The Leap of Faith". Imagine if you will, skiing towards a jump ramp, unable to see a thing . . . totally relying on a guide to shout out the distances to the ramp and tell you when to freeze a mili second before your skis touch the ramp.  Whew is all I can say.  Al is one brave guy.  When our KeNyA interviewed Al (at the '01 worlds) she asked if he was scared to jump . . . Al said "NO, I close my eyes!"  KeNyA responded with "What good does that do, you can't see anyway?"  Al responded with "It helps me:)" What a jokester. (You can read another entertaining story about this funny guy on My Aussie Experience.)

When he's not out on the water ripping it up, Al works as a licensed plumber and woodworker.  He's been spending some time and energy helping visually impaired children not only learn to ski, but also increase their awareness about what they can do off the water.  For example, Al's coach, Joel Zeisler told me that Al performed a brake job on Joel's truck.  (Remember Al is totally blind.)  Joel said Al asked to borrow his eyes once or twice during the brake job . . . Joel was also quick to point out that his truck stops just fine!  Talk about FAITH!  It goes both ways:)

Recently Al was contacted by an adolescent boy's parents because a wood shop teacher wouldn't allow the visually impaired youth to participate in operating power equipment.  Al went to school, met with administrators, the teacher, parents and youth and showed them what he could do.  The teacher was awed.  You see the teacher was fearful of the unknown (as most folks are) but once Al showed him this particular unknown was safe the teacher was delighted to allow the youth to participate along with the other students.

When we were in Ireland (for a training camp for the '99 World Championships) we took a little side trek and found an abandoned castle (see Photos).  When we returned to the hotel Kent began telling others of our find.  By far the most interested in the story was Alan, it seems his father used to take him trekking onto rocks, in caves, etc.  The only thing Alan hadn't been able to explore (while still sighted) was a castle, he said Kent's description brought it to life within his mind's eye.

Al thought it quite funny to yell out at skiers that he was watching them . . . so did they.  Just goes to show you, enjoy what you have, while you have it, especially a sense of humor.  That would by far be the saddest thing to lose.

In addition to being a great skier, Al serves on WSDA's governing Board of Directors as Co-Director of the eastern region and the Equipment Manufacturer Committee.