Yet again this is a sport that doesn't exactly spring to mind
when you think of wheelchairs. The equipment we use is a slightly wider, single board, that
has a shallow frame fixed to he top. On this is a piece of materiel forming a seat with some
padding on the frame. The seating position is a sort of squat with your knees on your chest.
That's it really, apart from a boat to pull you along, and a bit of string to hang onto.
The hardest part is actually rising up out of the water - which happens to be the tricky bit
if you stand up to ski as well. Once skimming along the surface it's an exhilarating feeling,
with the spray biting into any exposed skin and the water rushing away beneath you.
It's surprising how much you are able to control your position - relative to the back of the
boat - using only very subtle movements. At times it seems as though a slight head movement
is all it takes to send you hurtling across the wake created by the speeding boat. That wake
may not look much when watching from the lakeside, but when crossing it on a water-ski it can
feel like the tidal wave of a tropical hurricane. When traversing the wake, part of the trick
is to make sure you keep the towrope as low as possible and not to let it bounce about too
much. The other part is not to have too great a sense of self-preservation and discard any
notion of not falling off - because you will.
The spinal injury charity Back-Up usually run a couple of water-skiing training
weeks each year. Enjoyment guaranteed. For further information you can either contact them
direct or The British Disabled Water-skiing Association (BDWSA) operate from Heron Lake just
off the M25 at Wraysbury. They've got a great setup there with purpose built accommodation that
will sleep more than a dozen people, plus toilet and shower facilities all with full wheelchair
access. There is even a dining area and lounge where you can relax and exchange 'wipe out'
stories.
Telephone - 01784 483664 for information about skiing at Heron Lake.
