A Water Ski Adventure!

Good Morning,

Being a SUPER fan has it's pitfalls...I'm still a little bit in the dumper from the loss yesterday. I have expressed my thanks and gratitude elsewhere but can not repeat myself enough...

THANK YOU TEAM USA for taking us on the incredible journey! I have always been and will remain a fan for life!

What watching this tournament has done for me has been that it also reminded me of a truth I'd forgotten. I will ALWAYS be an athlete for life. As my own kind of "highlight" real, I wanted to share some of the best moments from A Day at the Lake, 2011, an event I went to last Friday put on by the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City.

BUT before I share my slide show...

I wanted to take a moment to answer a few questions I've received:

Q: Have you ever water skied before?

A: No, I've done adapted snow skiing a few times which was AMAZING in terms of freedom and challenge. I tried water skiing once prior to my injury (at age 12?).

Q: Is it hard to get up in the adapted ski?

(No...not with proper adjustments. : )

A: On my first attempt I went a total of zero feet. When the handle and rope ripped from my grasp, the only thing that popped up and out was my body. There is a built in hold for this problem. Those who lack enough grip strength have the rope secured in between two pieces of hard rubber on the front of the ski. Rope (not arms) can then be popped out once the skier is up. On my runs, I chose to leave the rope in the hold and used weight shifts to steer.

Q: Is it hard to balance?

A: Balance on an adapted ski is easy to maintain once the ski is up and tracking behind the boat. Once you start to execute cuts and turns or wish to go outside the wake balance is probably like any other ski experience. It takes practice.

Q: What's it like up there?

A: The ride inside the wake is for the most part smooth but due to the wide flat surface area of the ski in rougher waters it can get a bit choppy. If you have sensation, you will know when you have pee in your bladder.

Q: The rainbow rope?

A: Like all water skiing a lot depends on the driver. Mine was Darrell. A seasoned boatsman with well-tanned skin and remarkably bushy white eye brows. What I liked most about this guy’s guy was his steadiness on the throttle and his PRIDE. As only good fortune can have it, sometimes ignorance sends a beautiful message. Not only did Darrell represent for all men wearing wrap-around, visor glasses but he also unknowingly used a rainbow colored tow rope (a universal symbol of gay PRIDE). There were two boats taking people out that day and I just happened to get lucky being assigned to such an encouraging and supportive craft!

Q: Even despite your magnificent wipe outs would you do this again?

A: Honestly, right now I don't know. I feel old.

There are 5 hand signals you need to know. Thumbs up, faster, thumbs down, slower, slash neck immediate cut it, pat top of the head I’m done, and whirly bird, let’s go around again. I used none of these as my wipe outs were significant and severe enough to communicate their need.

As photos will reveal, and as many of you know, I have been watching quite a bit of World Cup soccer lately. Like Abby "the time is now" Wambach I decided I’m going for it! The rope tightened and I cut hard left skipping outside the wake. As I made my outside run, I looked up timing my perfect cross. I hit the edge of the wake on the left. "Oh. yeah!," I smiled, I cut across to the right, then threw my body like Abby...leaning, reaching fearlessly for the header. Then WHAMMO!!!

I have no memory but what at least five people have reported this is what happened next...

Behind the spray and splash of white water I disappeared. I and the ski went underwater completely sideways. Darrell cut the engine but I was NOT done! With my cat quick Hope Solo instincts, I read the situation (@#$!^&) and REACTED!...and popped up! Unfortunately, by this time there was too much slack in my rainbow rope so I crashed.

I had water completely up at least five orifices…The rescue crew dove from the jet skis and swam to my side.

So...again, I don't know. It's going to depend on how much more water I think I can hold in my nose.

Okay, : ). Here's the show. Adventure on!...



Happy Monday,

Amanda