US DisAbled Water Ski Team |
2003 and 2001 US DisAbled Water Ski TEAM Members
| TEAM Member | State | Ski Division | Mini Biography |
Allan Golabek** 
2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
Connecticut | V1
Visually Impaired Totally blind |
Allan's only been skiing 4 years, competing in 5 National & 2 World Championships. Al has set records (pending) in jump, also receiving numerous gold medals in jump & slalom. Al's stiffest competition comes from his coach/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. |
Aric
Fine 
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
Georgia |
MP2 Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lower level of injury; typically mid-chest injury, arms/hands not affected |
After setting 2 world records in the jump event at the 1999 World Championships Aric became known as "Flyin' Fine". 2001 marked the 3rd time Flyin' Fine was selected for the team. He is the current National Overall Champ w/world records in slalom and jump. Works @ Bell South when not skiing. |
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Bill
Bowness
2003 TEAM 1999 TEAM
|
Mississippi (Summer) California (Winter) |
MP3 Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances with cane. |
Bill is a 3 time World Record Holder in Slalom, World Record Holder in Jump. Nine time Individual World Champion in Slalom, Trick and Jump. Multi-time member of the US DisAbledWaterSki TEAM. Has skied in all but about 15 of the States in the USA. |
Bill
Furbish 
2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
Georgia |
MP1 Multi plegic -Unable to stand to ski, level of injury affects arms or hands. Highest level of injury, typically quadriplegic, some use of hands/arms |
Bill, aka "Turbo" is a 12 time Nat'l Champion, Current World Record Holder, never satisfied w/existing performances, always looking to set a record. Works @ Bell South as a software development manager when not skiing. |
Camie Ogren
2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
South Carolina | WLA
Women Leg Amputee skis without prosthesis |
Another multi-time, multi-event, world record/world champion. Camie left her home state of Florida last year to work at Anchor's Away, a program offering lots of aquatic activities to folks with a disability. Camie is a TEAM veteran. |
Craig Timm 
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
Minnesota | AA
Arm Amputee skis without prosthesis |
Craig is a 7 time National Champion, current world record holder in slalom & defending world champion. He medalled in jump and overall at the '97,& '99 and '01 World Championships. To support his ski habit he works as an Information Systems Auditor. |
Joe
Ray
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM |
Alabama | MP2
Multi-plegic - Unable to stand to ski, lower level of injury; typically mid-chest injury, arms/hands not affected |
In addition to being a Silver Medalist at the '99 Nationals and working for Blue Cross Blue Shield as a systems analyst, Joe runs a non profit organization called Adaptive Aquatics, teaching kids and adults with disabilities how to ski. Joe set a World Record at the '01 Worlds, set another one months later at an able bodied tournament! |
Katie Mawby
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
Michigan | WV2/3
Women Visually Impaired Partial Sight |
Another TEAM veteran, Katie also set a World Record at the '01 Worlds, and won the Gold Overall, Gold in all 3 events. She's a physical therapist when not skiing. |
Kerri McMurtry 
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM |
California |
WMP3Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances with cane. |
A recent college grad (a B.S. in therapeutic recreation) Kerri's just returned to her home state of California after completing her residency. An alternate on the '99 US TEAM, she earned a Silver Overall at the '01 Worlds. Kerri's also the current Women's National Champion. |
Kirk Larson
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM |
Texas | LA
Leg Amputee skis with prosthesis |
Kirk started skiing in 1993, 3 years later he began competing, and has racked up 3 National Championships. Kirk earned a Gold in Slalom at his first (2001) Worlds. When not skiing, Kirk's a registered nurse for Orthopedic Specialty Associates, |
Mark Hieftje
2001 TEAM |
Alabama | V1
Visually Impaired Totally blind |
A veteran of the armed forces, also a veteran waterSkier, competing for 10+years, earning numerous world records in his favorite event of jumping. Mark currently holds the world record in jump and enjoys coaching old and young alike. |
Mark
Turner 
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
California |
MP3 Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances with cane. |
While Mark "ANIMAL" frequently dazzles people with wild hair colors for competitions, he's also been dazzling them with a few gold medals & record performances. The '99 World Slalom Champion and 2 time world record holder Mark pulled out all the stops and became a 3 event skier, earning the Overall National Championship in 2000. Only 24 years old, Mark's got lots of years of competition ahead of him. He earned the Gold Overall at the 2001 Worlds! |
Matt Oberholtz
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM |
California |
MP3 Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances with cane. |
Matt has a World Record for Tricks, the only DisAbled person in the world to perform a flip. Nestled in Chico, CA, Matt operates Obe's All Ability Ski School. This was Matt's 2nd Worlds, he tied the World Record in Slalom in September at an able bodied tournament! |
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Rhonda
Jarvis-Ray
2003 TEAM |
Alabama | WMP3Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of
injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or
lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances
with cane.
|
Rhonda's really blasted her way into the waterSki World. She was National Overall, Slalom and Jump Champion in 2003,setting a World Record in Jump. First time US TEAM Member, Rhonda earned a Gold Medal in Slalom and Bronze Medals in Jump and Trick |
Stephany
Glassing 
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
Georgia |
WMP2 Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically mid-chest injury, arms/hands not affected. |
Stephany is an avid jumper, she didn't reach her goal of setting a women's jump record at the 2001 Worlds down under; however she did earn a Gold Medal in Jump at the '03 Worlds, and set a World Record. |
Steve Hornsey 
2003 TEAM 2001 TEAM 1999 TEAM |
California |
MP3 Multi-plegic Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances with cane. |
A pioneer in this sport, "Evets" has competed on 5 US DisAbled Ski Teams, holding numerous world records. He is Program Coordinator of Access Leisure for the City of Sacramento and Gold Medalist in Jump at the 2001 Worlds. |
| Denise
Bowness
2003 TEAM COACH 1999 TEAM COACH |
Mississippi (Summer) California (Winter) | Coach | Denise, alongside husband Bill, teaches adaptive snow and waterSkiing and was TEAM Coach of the 2003 & 1999 World Champion US DisAbled WaterSki TEAMs |
Mike
Mosley
2001 TEAM COACH |
Alabama | Coach | Recognized by the USOC as the 1999 Developmental Coach of the Year for waterSkiing, Mike holds a Level 3 Coaching Certification, Regular Judge/Driver ratings from USA WaterSki and is a top nationally ranked competitor himself. Mike's also coach for the Lakeshore DisAbled WaterSki Team |
John
Reid
2001 TEAM MANAGER |
California | Manager | John's credentials are lengthy. He's a Level 3 instructor, a Pan American International Judge, he's been the US DisAbled Nationals Chief Judge, Chief Judge of the '99 World DisAbled WaterSki Championships and has worked with DisAbled skiers since 1992. John also helped implement the National Junior Development Program (serving as Chair). |
Keith
Barbour 
2003 TEAM DOCTOR 2001 TEAM DOCTOR 1999 TEAM DOCTOR |
Michigan | Physician | Dr. Barbour (Doc) has been with the US TEAM for over 10 years. By degree he is a Doctor of Osteopathy, specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. As an osteopathic physician he uses his hands (plus all the modern/traditional methods) to evaluate/treat any illness. He is a board certified specialist to evaluate/treat sports injuries, pain, weakness and disabilities. This combination makes him well suited to handle all the varied medical difficulties that such a TEAM and its support staff may encounter on the road, training, and competing. |
| Joel
Zeisler
2003 CO-TEAM COACH 2001 SKIER GUIDE 1999 SKIER GUIDE |
Connecticut | Jump Guide | Joel is the Jump Guide for US TEAM Members Al Golabek and Mark Hieftje. Joel's dedication to his skiers (He's also been their Personal Coach) is admirable; not an "official" member of the TEAM, Joel pays his own way to World competitions. |
Special thanks and appreciation to Aric Fine (US DisAbled Ski TEAM) for the information included on this page:)
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Ready to rumble!
| DIVISION | DESCRIPTION | US TEAM MEMBER |
| MP1 | Multi-Plegic -Unable to stand to ski, level of injury affects arms/hands. Highest level of injury, typically quadriplegic, some use of hands/arms | Bill
Furbish*
2001, 1999 TEAM |
| MP2 | Multi-Plegic - Unable to stand to ski, lower level of injury; typically mid-chest injury, arms/hands not affected | Aric Fine,*
Joe
Ray*
Both 2003 & 2003 TEAM |
| MP3 | Multi-Plegic - Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances with cane | Bill
Bowness, Steve Hornsey,
Matt
Oberholtz*, Mark
Turner*
All 2003 & 2001 TEAM |
| WMP1 | Women's Multi-Plegic -Unable to stand to ski, level of injury affects arms/hands. Highest level of injury, typically quadriplegic, some use of hands/arms | None |
| WMP2 | Women's Multi-Plegic - Unable to stand to ski, lower level of injury; typically mid-chest injury, arms/hands not affected | Stephany Glassing*
2003, 2001, 1999 TEAM |
| WMP3 | Women's Multi-Plegic - Unable to stand to ski, lowest level of injury in this division. Typically injury is near the waist or lower, some injuries are "incomplete"; can walk short distances with cane | Kerri McMurtry,
Rhonda Jarvis-Ray*
Both 2003
TEAM; Kerri, 2001 TEAM |
| AA- Men | Arm Amputee - No prosthesis | Craig
Timm*
2003,2001, 1999 TEAM |
| AA-Women | Arm Amputee - No prosthesis | None |
| LA -Men | Leg Amputee - No prosthesis | None |
| LA- Women | Leg Amputee - No prosthesis | Camie Ogren* 2001 TEAM |
| AA w/prosthesis | Arm Amputee - Skis with prosthesis | None - women or men |
| LA - Men w/prosthesis | Leg Amputee - Skis with prosthesis | Kirk Larson 2003,2001 TEAM |
| A/L | Arm/Leg - Combination injury | None - women or men |
| V1- Men | Visually Impaired - Totally blind | Mark Hieftje,* Allan Golabek* Both 2001, 1999 TEAM |
| V1 -Women | Visually Impaired - Totally blind | None |
| V2/3 | Visually Impaired - Partially sighted | Katie Mawby* 2003,2001,1999 TEAM |
* Current World Record Holder or Current World Champion (in 1 or more disciplines) 11 of the 14 are current or past World Record Holders/Champions
Within each of the divisions are "disciplines", the same as in able bodied 3 event skiing; "jumping" over a ramp (ramp height is 3' to 5.5', depending on skier), "trick skiing" (# of tricks performed in 20 seconds) "slalom" skiing (zig-zagging around 6 buoys, through entrance/exit gates - shortest rope length possible, speed up to a max of 36mph, without a miss or a fall). Visually handicapped skiers don't slalom (can't see the buoys) they either wake slalom (# of wake crossings in 16 seconds) or now audio slalom (a sound telling skiers when to turn to get around the buoy).