Video: Classes Allow Physically Challenged To Enjoy Sport of Water Skiing

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LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — A group of courageous young people and adults enjoyed a day on the lake, as part of a clinic that allows people dealing with various disabilities and injuries to water ski.

WCBI’s Allie Martin spent some time with the participants and has more.

For more than a year, 12-year-old Kristyn Wright has undergone therapy after being involved in a four wheeler accident and injuring her back.

Now, with help from NMMC therapists, she’s getting ready to water ski for the first time.

Kristyn is taking part in an Adaptive Water Ski Clinic.

“People that have some type of impairment or disability can water ski again, whether they have skied in the past before, or they have never skied,” said Jai Eschete, of the North Mississippi Medical Center.

For this class, participants use “Sit Down Skis.”

“Instead of traditional standing when you are skiing, you sit down when you ski and we have two types of ski, a beginner’s ski and an intermediate ski for more advanced skiers,” he said.
It didn’t take long for Kristyn to get the hang of it.

“It was easier than I thought,” Wright said.

Along with having a lot of fun, the clinic also inspires and challenges patients.

“It’s helped me, I’ve gotten stronger, and it’s allowed me to do something I didn’t know I could do,” she said.

Building confidence, mental and physical strength for patients like Kristyn has kept this class in high demand each summer.

There will be two more Adaptive Water Ski Classes, this year. For more information call 662-377-7215.