$upport the '23 worlds

 There’s no record of who first adapted water ski equipment to facilitate skiing with a physical disability. Undoubtedly, it was someone who loved the sun, water and adventure and refused to be stopped by a physical challenge!  The sheer excitement, nervousness, and apprehensiveness of new athletes is supplanted by smiles, confidence, and pride after they experience the joy of water skiing for the first time. Some have no desire to compete, while others get addicted to the rush and compete, a few to this highest level. Witnessing these transformations motivates us to continue our efforts to serve our athletes with disabilities.

Disabled water skiers compete in the same three events as traditional water skiing; slalom, tricks, and jump. Those who stand to ski, and those with vision impairment, use able bodied equipment; some athletes with arm disabilities may use an assistive device.  Slalom skiing involves passing through "entry gates", zig zagging around six buoys, passing through "exit gates" at a prescribed speed. When that pass is made, the boat speed is increased by 2mph to the maximum speed of 36mph (for young men) or 34mph (for young women). Speeds decrease by 2mph with age. When the skier reaches their maximum boat speed, they shorten the rope length in certified increments, making each pass more difficult. In able bodied competition the world record rope length is shorter than the distance of the rope to the buoy, tall people have a definite advantage! Miss rounding a buoy or a gate and your turn is over. Slalom scores are written as buoy count/boat speed/line length (metric numbers). Tricks are scored by a predetermined point value for the most points within a 20 second pass; the skier gets two passes per turn. Jump is scored by the distance flown from the ramp.

There are 3 Divisions within disabled/adaptive water skiing, with each division having multiple Categories.  Prior to adaptive events, athletes go through a classification process to determine the category in which they’ll compete.

1. Standing Division

a. A1 & A2 - Arm disabilities - the difference between the categories is that the residual limb is allowed to touch the handle in A2

b. L & LP - Leg amputation - the difference between the categories is those in LP category ski with prosthesis 

c. A/L1 & A/L2 - significant arm and leg impairment, arm and leg amputation, and hemiplegia - the difference between the categories is level of impairment 

2. Vision Impaired Division

a. V1 & V2/3 - the difference between the categories is V1 skiers have no light perception in either eye or inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance

3. Seated Division

a. MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MP5 - Multiple plegics and those with double leg amputation

b. MP1- Balance and movement are significantly impaired. Skier is unable to hold or maintain holding the handle with hands. Skiers have no trunk rotation and no use of abdominal muscles

c. MP2 - No active trunk rotation and no use of abdominal muscles. Skiers in this class are generally quadriplegics, may be incomplete quadriplegics with more functional ability and high level paraplegics

d. MP3 - upper trunk rotation but poor lower trunk rotation. Skiers in this category generally have mid-level break paraplegia

e. MP4 - good trunk rotation but limited controlled sideways movement. Skiers in this category generally have lower level break paraplegia

f. MP5 - Normal trunk movement in all directions, able to reach side to side with no 

limitations. Able to move hips independently. Skiers in this category generally have both legs amputated, those who cannot ski standing and skiers with required minimum disability and who display controlled sideways (hip) movement.

Equipment

Almost all Team members ski a minimum of two events, most ski three, to increase their chances of being selected for the team, and to contributing team points during World Championships.