Blog: "I go water skiing whenever possible"
The EFDS website features a blog post every Friday through the year. In 2016 we’re taking a look at an A-Z of accessible sporting and fitness opportunities available to disabled people.
This week it’s W for water skiing, and Mike Payne from Wimborne in Dorset discusses discovering the thrill of participation after a back injury.
Mike’s blog
As someone who wasn't particularly sporty before my back injury, I didn't think that sports would be for me.
But then I discovered an incredible charity called Access Adventures and saw that they were running a water skiing camp at Heron Lake, Staines, home of the British Disabled Water Ski and Wakeboard Association (BDWWA).
I thought I'd give it a try as it looked fun and challenging. After one go I was hooked – the feeling of freedom out on the lake was so liberating, not to mention the rush of adrenaline that comes from speeding through the water and slicing through the wake.
I got a spinal cord injury in 2012 after a 40ft fall from a bridge. It was a dumb mistake, but one that has subsequently opened up a whole new world of adrenaline to me.
Being a paraplegic I have no use of my legs, so I use my upper body to balance and change direction. It wasn’t easy at first but I soon picked it up with the help and advice from other skiers, and began improving and am now completely independent on the water.
At first I was aided by two “buddy skiers” who skied on either side of me, making sure I didn't keep falling in and helping to increase my confidence.
I kept improving until I didn't need any assistance and became an independent skier. The satisfaction and feeling of achievement was incredible, so I joined the BDWWA and now go for a ski whenever possible.
I soon began wanting to try some jumps and tricks so I had a go on an adapted wakeboard and instantly fell in love with that as well. I now alternate between the water ski and the wakeboard, depending on how I'm feeling and what I want to try.
The help you get from the volunteers and buddy skiers is amazing. There is always someone there to answer any questions or to make sure that you are feeling safe and confident.
There is also the social side of it that I enjoy and at Heron Lake they have events such as BBQs, firework nights and even friendly ski competitions. I have made a lot of new friends there and it is a real family environment where everyone has fun.
Water skiing has improved my life so much and made me want to become good enough to enter competitions. And I cannot thank Access Adventures enough for all the help and encouragement they have given me.
Read more in the A-Z blogs series.
