The athletes you see pictured above have relationships, families, financial and/or employment concerns, same as you and me.  Along with the basic life issues they've been given a physical challenge.  They aren't necessarily courageous, they're just folks making the best of their lives.
They like to waterSki because it's fun, challenging, and a great family recreational activity.

They compete in the same 3 events as the able bodied; trick skiing, jumping over a ramp, and slalom skiing (zig zagging around a set of prearranged buoys at a specific line length and boat speed).  The divisions are categorized by level of "disability" (if you saw them ski you'd question the use of that word).  The divisions are visually handicapped (blind jumping is called the "leap of faith"); arm, leg, or arm/leg amputee with or without prosthesis; and the multi plegics (those unable to stand to ski).

Frankly, there is minimal financial or emotional support for the team, yet the US Team is one of the most patriotic at the Worlds.  Anything bearing our red, white, and blue is worn with pride.  Towels, hats, shirts, shorts, flags, swimsuits, flags are donned by US athletes.  At the '99 Worlds several team members, staff, a personal coach and his family went completely out of character and painted their nails, dyed their hair, even a mustache red, white, and blue.  All of that for the good ole' USofA; most of which doesn't know they exist.

Compare that to the British WaterSki TEAM who are government funded.  The top skiers receive a monthly stipend, expenses for gas, equipment, coaching, travel and accommodations.  Prior to the 2001 Worlds they held training camps every 6 weeks and traveled to Australia in JANUARY (nearly 2 1/2 months before the event) to train in World Championship conditions.  With that kind of support and training it's no wonder their 7 athletes beat our 15 athletes.  Our skiers must pay for their own gas, equipment, coaching, travel and accommodations.

Well good ole' USofA, now it's your turn to give back to the TEAM that brings honor, the Team World Championship, individual World Records, Gold, Silver & Bronze medals back to you.  Support Our Skiers!  Never has this, or any other, World Champion DisAbled WaterSkier or Team been bestowed appropriate honoring by our Nation's leader.  Race car drivers, other athletes, entertainers have been honored in the White House.  Do you have any White House connections? Will you (please and thanks) connect us?

If you can't get the TEAM recognized by the President, their State Governor, etcetera, please send $ ($1- $1Mil) to USA WaterSki (the national governing body for the sport) via the internet at www.usawaterski.org   or mail your $ directly to WSDA (Water Skiers with Disabilities Association) c/o USA Water Ski Headquarters 799 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884-1679.  Your donation is tax deductible and wholeheartedly appreciated.  They'll take checks, credit cards, cash too (please don't send pigs, chickens, cows or goats)!  On the other hand, they could use some products, like towels, shirts, hats, flags . . . you know Apple Pie/Flag Waving kind of stuff.   Mention TEAM KeNevA sent you, and the $'s for the US DisAbled Ski TEAM.

Hey, thanks for your support, even if it's only a buck . . . if more than 66,276 people send in a buck a piece the TEAM gets to travel. (That was the 2001 Worlds Budget, the next World Championship event will be held in Italy in 2003.  It's the US's turn to host it . . . but the US TEAM doesn't have the money to do so:(

By the way, if life ever presents you with a physical challenge like amputation, visual impairment or necessity of wheelchair use . . . life's not over, you can laugh, you can love, folks YOU CAN STILL WATERSKI! Perhaps well enough to make the Elite US DisAbledWater Ski TEAM:) Woo-woo!!

Ski Happy . . . and Expect the Best!!!

     Click on the US Ski TEAM link to meet the latest  TEAM:)

Steve "HAMMER" Hamilton, Clay Whiddon (in the hat), Stephany Glassing, AUSSIE Laury Cunningham, Aric Fine, and Mark "ANIMAL" Turner (with the colored hair).