Video: ‘Adaptive Water Ski Clinic’ Provides Fun, Motivation For Those With Injuries, Disabilities

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LEE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) –  Water skiing is one of the most popular summertime activities in our area.  But those recovering from injuries or dealing with disabilities need special help and equipment to enjoy the sport. As WCBI’s Allie Martin reports,  individuals with various physical limitations strapped on the skis, as part of a special clinic.

When he was in the United States Marines, Scott Burns never water skied.

“We don’t get to water ski in boot camp,” Burns said.

During his time in the Marines, Burns broke his ankle.  The injury led to other complications and several years ago, his leg was amputated, just below the knee.

This is his third year at the adaptive water ski clinic.

This clinic is organized by NMMC’s Rehabilitation Services.  The free event is for those who have had spinal cord injuries , traumatic brain injuries, or who deal with other physical limitations.

“In water skiing, for able bodied people, you use either two skis or a slalom ski and you stand up and ski, but with adaptive water skiing, you use different equipment, you can see when Scott was skiing, Scott has a beginner’s ski, with , the thing he sits in, we call it a cage,” said Jai Eschete, with NMMC Rehab Services.

At all times, there are several people in the boat, and helpers who stay with the skier.

For Scott Burns, the clinic is a fun and challenging adventure.

“It’s a little motivating,  for me, self motivation, that if I can do this, there’s pretty much anything else I want to do I can do,” Burns said.

Clinic helpers say it’s rewarding to see participants’ overcome obstacles.

“Someone like Scott, we know what to expect, we know Scott is going to love doing this, will be involved and give it his all. But those people, who are new, like the gentleman behind me, he’s real timid, but as you will see at the end, he will come out, similing and ask when is the next clinic so he can do it again,” Eschete said.

“There’s a ramp here I’ve tried to get them to let me jump but for some reason they say , for safety, insurance purposes, you can’t do it, they make sure I don’t get close enough to anything like that,” Burns said.

Although they won’t let him jump the ramp, Scott plans on being at the next two adaptive ski clinics this summer.

That clinic is held at Boar’s Head Lake.  for information on upcoming clinics, go to http://www.nmhs.net/ski_clinic.php