WORCESTER, Mass. — The Donahue Rowing Center at Lake Quinsigamond hosted an adaptive water skiing event for young members of the disabled community on Aug. 17. 

The “Any Age, Any Disability Water Ski Event” was organized by the Webster Water Ski Collective, a non-profit organization founded in 2020 that is dedicated to promoting water skiing events for those with disabilities and the general public.

Courtesy photo: Employees from the Webster Water Ski Collective help a member of the disabled community end a ski run during their adaptive skiing event at Lake Quinsigamond on Aug. 17.

About 25 individuals between the ages of 3 and 24, with disabilities ranging from spinal bifida and cerebral palsy to down syndrome, blindness, autism and epilepsy, hit the water in specialized ski equipment. 

“There is nothing better that we like to do than to share our love of waterskiing with others,” said Webster Water Ski Collective’s President Ryan DesRoches. “Once you see the faces light up when they hit the water, it’s impossible not to smile and become hooked on doing this. We’re just so happy to be able to bring this opportunity of water skiing to our disabled community who normally would not get the chance to do something like this.” 

The Lake Quinsigamond event is the third adaptive skiing event put on by the newly formed Webster Water Ski Collective. The first two events were held in June and last August at Webster Lake.

Courtesy photo.

The Webster Water Ski Collective partners with The Leaps Of Faith (LOF) Adaptive Skiers, a non-profit adaptive skiing organization based in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, to put on their events, which include specialized ski instructors and boat spotters trained in working with individuals with disabilities.

“The [LOF] has been doing adaptive skiing for 30 years now and they have taken us under their wing. They have provided us with training, they bring up the equipment for us to use for the event,” said DesRoches. 

The equipment used by the Webster Water Ski Collective are called “sit skis,” which is essentially a thick water ski with a mesh seat that has shock absorbers attached to the frame. They permit most anyone with a disability to water ski. 

“These skis are specially made, there are only a couple manufacturers in the country that make them,” DesRoches explained. “They basically look like a big surf board with aluminum feet that they sit, conforming to the skier’s body and allowing them to not have to really use their legs or most of their core to stay stable on the ski.”

Courtesy photo: Reanna Kuzdzal (right) of The Webster Water Ski Collective and Cora Fagan (left) from Leaps of Faith ski with Camron Savoie on Webster Lake in June.

The event was free for the participants and, according to the organization, is being funded by sponsors and the local community.

DesRoches says that the Webster Water Ski Collective is asking for donations to purchase their own sit skis because much of the equipment they use is being loaned by the LOF. And with the skis costing $2,500, the price can be prohibitive.

“We want to be able to have our own equipment and be able to do more of these events in the future,” said DesRoches.

If you would like to donate, please visit the Webster Water Ski Collective’s website.