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November17, 2004 - November 17, 2004, Issue 4 >> |
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================================================= Adaptive Sports & Recreation ================================================= November 3, 2004 Vol. 1, Issue 3 Stephen Michael Kerr, Publisher stevekerr@ev1.net Copyright 2004, Stephen Michael Kerr. ================================================= Privacy Policy ================================================= Your privacy is very important to me. Your e-mail address will never be sold, shared, or distributed with anyone. You may forward copies of this newsletter to friends and family, and encourage them to subscribe. If you feel you have received this ezine in error, you may unsubscribe at any time; information on how to unsubscribe is at the bottom of this message. ================================================= In This Issue ================================================= - From The Publisher - Spotlight: Blind Skiers See The Light by Stephen Michael Kerr - Profile: NAVSEA Paralympian Returns from Athens by Linda Fischer - In The News - Keeping Fit: Three Principles for Overcoming Obstacles by Laura Turner - Your Feedback - On Deck - Contact Information ================================================= Feature Ad ================================================= *************************** Need to raise your healthy I.Q.? New Body News is for you! Inside the New Body News and Wellness Letter, you'll find: Motivation; the latest trends in personal growth and inspiration. Interaction; freedom of speech to express your healthy opinion. And more! Enroll now and build a better you. http://www.new-body-news.com ================================================= From The Publisher ================================================= Welcome to Adaptive Sports & Recreation, the free ezine delivered to your inbox every other Wednesday. You'll read about playing baseball without being able to see, or water ski despite being in a wheelchair. You'll also find helpful links to organizations that support these and other similar activities. Your feedback is always welcome. Please e-mail me at: stevekerr@ev1.net While planning this ezine over the past year or so, one of my goals was to not only spread the word about adaptive sports, but to build relationships with my subscribers and the people whose organizations I contact for articles to be featured in each issue. Well, I am happy to say that is already beginning to happen, even though the publication is only a month old. I have corresponded with several of you, and have been very encouraged by your kind words and suggestions. You've told me about your lives, your families, what interests you, and how you've been waiting for a newsletter like this to come along, and for that, I thank you. I'd like to become acquainted with more of you. Tell me about yourself, your interests, how you found this ezine, etc. I am always open to suggestions on how to make this publication better. I've always believed that it takes more than one person to make something a success; it's a team effort. If you know someone whom you think would enjoy this ezine, feel free to forward a copy and encourage them to subscribe. Thanks again for your support, and I look forward to hearing more of your feedback. ------------------------------------------------- Stephen Michael Kerr is the publisher of Adaptive Sports & Recreation, as well as a radio broadcaster and freelance writer in Austin, Texas. Blind since birth, Stephen has written various articles and given numerous speeches on disability awareness. ------------------------------------------------- ================================================= Spotlight ================================================= Blind Skiers See The Light by Stephen Michael Kerr About three hours west of Denver lies Snow Mountain Ranch, one of the top cross-country ski centers in the United States. Known as the "YMCA of the Rockies", it boasts a large ski chalet and over 90 kilometers of packed and groomed trails. From January 30 to February 6, 2005, the center will host the 30th annual Ski for Light International event, a week that brings blind and mobility-impaired adults together with sighted ski instructors for cross-country skiing and fun social activities. Participants come from the United States, Norway, and several other countries to either learn skiing for the first time, or improve on previously developed skills. The first Ski for Light was held in Norway in 1964, and was so successful that a nonprofit all-volunteer organization was formed. Chapters began spreading to other parts of the world, and the program was first introduced to the United States in 1975. The idea is to provide the blind and mobility-impaired a chance to experience the freedom and benefits of physical activity through cross-country skiing. At the beginning of the event, held at a different site every year, each skier is paired with an instructor/guide, according to experience level. Beginners are taught basic fundamentals of the sport, while more advanced skiers work on improving their techniques and endurance. Skiers navigate the slopes in pre-set tracks or grooves in the snow, while their instructors ski on a parallel set of tracks. The guide advises when to change direction, speed up and slow down, and describes any changes in the level and direction of the tracks. Skiers with mobility impairments use sit-skis, while their guides give instructional tips and offer physical assistance if needed. In addition to cross-country skiing, mobility-impaired participants also have the chance to learn the sport of sled-hockey during the week. The sighted instructors are volunteers from all over the United States who pay their own way to attend, just like the other participants. Duane Farrar, a blind skier and chairman of Ski for Light's Public Relations Committee, says their role is vital to the success of the program. "They are there because they love cross-country skiing and wish to share that love with someone like myself who otherwise might not have the opportunity to experience the sport and the exhilarating sense of freedom that it brings," Farrar explains. The highlight of the event is a 5-K rally and 10-K race, complete with national anthems and Olympic-style finish line. Skiers get the chance to showcase the skills they've learned during the week over a measured distance, but don't have to be competitive or athletic. The only thing asked of them is to give skiing a try, and have fun. Mary Kozy, a blind clinical social worker from Chicago, was a bit apprehensive when she attended her first Ski for Light in 1978. But it didn't take her long to discover the joy of learning to ski, and meeting other people with positive attitudes. "After attending Ski for Light, I caught the "if I can do this, I can do anything" attitude, and went on to love skiing," Kozy recalls. "It is a real high to go to SFL for a week and be around so many enthusiastic people." While skiing is the big attraction, it is only part of the total experience. After a day on the slopes, skiers and guides return to their hotel for dinner, talent shows, music and dancing, or just lounging in a heated pool or hot-tub. Even poor snow conditions can't stop the event. In cases of extremely low temperatures or not enough snow, participants organize games, field trips, exercises, and other activities. Many skiers believe the most rewarding aspect of Ski for Light is the memories and camaraderie they share with each other and their guides. "The friendships I've made through SFL are deep, and those I will have all my life," Mary Kozy says. "People come through town and visit, and we are now like a big family." Deborah Kendrick, a freelance writer and devoted participant, agrees. "I believe there is no other environment in which participants suspend, so completely, the sense of who is and who is not a person with a disability," she says. "People of all walks of life come together for that one week to share a love of skiing, the outdoors, learning, and loving life." ------------------------------------------------- To find out more about Ski for Light, or the upcoming event in Granby, Colorado, visit: www.sfl.org ------------------------------------------------- * If you have an idea for a spotlight on a particular adaptive sport or organization, send it to: stevekerr@ev1.net with "Spotlight" in the subject line. ================================================= Profile ================================================= NAVSEA Paralympian returns from Athens By Linda Fischer What goes through the mind of a world-class sprinter in those tense moments just before the starter's signal splits the air? For blind Paralympian Joseph Aukward it's visualizing his deceased father by his shoulder urging him on, and imagining himself as a child running bases - loose and free. Aukward, a NAVSEA budget analyst, recently competed at the 2004 Paralympic games in Athens, Greece. He was a member of the highly ranked American track and field team. The 42-person squad -- made up of men and women with various disabilities from visual impairment to amputation -- finished with 26 medals. Their haul helped put Team U.S.A. into fourth place, overall, at the close of competition. Aukward ran the 200-meter race and four-by-100 meter relay in the visual impairment category. He placed third in his individual heat with a respectable time of just over 25 seconds. The relay team ranked fourth, narrowly missing a berth in the finals. While he didn't walk away with a medal, the veteran runner did achieve his childhood ambition of representing his country in an Olympic-level event. "It was a culmination of many years, even decades, of training and it was a very emotional experience," said Aukward. "I've been running since I was six and running as a visually impaired athlete for ten years. It had been so illusive for so long." In 2000 he was well on track to securing a place in the U.S. track team for the Sydney Olympics. He recorded a time of 24.16 seconds in the 200-meter selection trial, one of the ten fastest times in the world for his vision category. But a serious injury during the final trial derailed his dream on that occasion. The Paralympics in September followed right on the heels of the XXVIII Olympiad. And the intense competition continued with the world's top disabled athletes from 136 countries going head-to-head in pursuit of sporting victory, national pride and "triumph of the spirit" -- the Paralympic motto. "Having around 4,000 of the best physically challenged athletes in the world in one location ...dealing with their disabilities in such a positive way, you couldn't help but be buoyed and encouraged ...and just seeing folks from all these disparate countries coming together to compete was tremendous. (Paralympians) were there more for the spirit of the sport and the experience of it. That's not to say that competition wasn't important - it was," said Aukward summing up the similarities and differences between the Olympics and Paralympics. There is an extra dimension to running competitively without the benefit of vision. During the Paralympics, Aukward's 'eyes' belonged to his running guide Daniel Will. Aukward and Will were tethered by the wrist. The two runners function as a single, synchronized unit. It's a relationship built on total trust, mutual understanding and matched athletic skill. "The more we are as one, the better we compete. Daniel did a great job. He's an excellent sprinter and he was very calm in the stadium, which is really important," said Aukward. The electric atmosphere in the Olympic stadium left a lasting impact on Aukward, who is no stranger to high-profile athletic events. He has competed in the Marine Corps, Boston and Chicago Marathons, the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) World Championships and the Pan Am Games. But the indomitable spirit of the athletes and the enthusiastic support of the spectators made the Paralympics one of the most memorable experiences of his racing career. "There were large crowds and a lot of press...people were yelling and chanting -- they were very expressive and boisterous, it was very uplifting. Walking through the tunnel and coming out onto the stadium, it was really loud and you couldn't help but be excited," said Aukward. His finest Paralympic moment however, was having his family in Athens to share the experience with him. He vividly recalls hearing the cheers of his wife Betty, daughter Maria, 9, son Joseph, 7, his brother, Steve and sister-in-law, Judy, above the other voices in the crowd as he raced in the relay. His youngest daughter, Michelle, 3, followed the action stateside. "I could hear them yell, "Come on Dad!", "Go U.S.A.!", "We love you!" ... If I'd gone over there and won two gold medals, it wouldn't have meant as much as having my family there, even though I would have loved to have won a medal," said Aukward. At 43-years of age, Aukward concedes that Athens was his last shot at a Paralympic medal. While he plans to maintain his fitness, he has mixed feelings about racing competitively. Having achieved his lifelong goal of competing at an Olympic-level, he now plans to focus his attention firmly on his personal and professional life. "On the one hand, running (competitively) is almost a narcotic... but, I sense as an athlete, you can stay too long... any future competition I do will be a family decision. "What I really want to do now is devote as much time as I can to my family...my marriage and career are really important to me," said Aukward. By working with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, he will continue to mentor young Retinitis Pigmentosis sufferers -- the disease that gradually robbed him of his sight. He currently does life-skill coaching, but he hopes to broaden his reach. "I really do want to make a major effort to recruit and encourage physically challenged athletes from the D.C. area to consider having the Paralympics as their dream," said Aukward. ------------------------------------------------- This article was reprinted by permission from 'The Waterline, Linda Fischer'. Photos for the article by 'PH2 Corey Lewis'. To view the article with photo and caption, go to: http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/seaservices/9_41/sports/31649-1.html ------------------------------------------------- * Have an idea for a profile? Just send an e-mail to: stevekerr@ev1.net with "Profile" in the subject line. ================================================= In The News ================================================= Connecting Through Dance (CTD), a nonprofit organization that bridges the gap between visually impaired and sighted people through dance lessons, will host their fifth annual Music of the Night benefit, Saturday, December 4 from 7 to 11 Pm at the Lake Merritt Dance Center in Oakland, California. Tickets are $20 for online orders, and $25 at the door. Proceeds are tax-deductible, and will be used to sponsor a visually impaired partner for another year of "connecting through dance". Additional donations made at the event would be greatly appreciated. For more information, visit: www.connectingthroughdance.com ------------------------------------------------- The University of Alabama will host a National Wheelchair Basketball Association Division 3 women's tournament in the newly renovated student recreation center December 4. Registration is $50, and each team will be guaranteed three games. Space is limited, however, so teams must reserve a spot in the tournament as soon as possible. To find out more, or to obtain a registration packet, contact Brent Hardin at (205) 348-5109, or bhardin@ua.edu For more information about the NWBA, visit their website at: http://www.nwba.org/ * If you know of an adaptive sports event for this section, send it to: stevekerr@ev1.net and put "News" in the subject line. ================================================= Keeping Fit ================================================= Three Principles For Overcoming Obstacles! Copyright ?© 2004, Laura Turner Certified Personal Trainer http://www.1brand-new-body.com If you're like me, the quest to be in shape, manage weight and overall well-being, at times, feels overwhelming. And, as if the quest to be fit isn't hard enough, there's often other obstacles to overcome: health issues, time management, mustering up courage or energy. Even if you've been exercising for a long time, there's always new barriers to be broken. So, how to put all of this into perspective? According to Tom Turner, executive liaison for the Spina Bifida Association that's exactly it: Perspective. And also, according to him, there's no mountain too high to climb. Tom would know. Paralyzed from the waist down since birth he's now 33 and trains about three times a week. In fact, he tells me, he just couldn't get along without exercise. So in my quest for the last word on overcoming barriers in fitness, Tom sat down with me and together we came up with 3 basic principles that will help break-down fears and intimidations in reaching fitness goals. (After all, if he can exercise on a regular basis, shouldn't that be encouragement enough for anyone to give it a shot?) Principle #1 Move into the Fear. "Train your mind to believe no mountain is too high or any goal is too difficult to attain," Tom tells me. Basically, it's all about meeting your fears and facing them head-on. In this principle, aim to recognize your fears, acknowledge them and then move through them. Ask yourself what is it that makes you uncomfortable? Have you let yourself get out of shape and are afraid you'll never get back? Do you have an injury that's caused you to be afraid of your body? If you can visualize creatively, then you can put your fears in check. See your self as you'd like to be. Remember: your body loves you and has the potential to heal itself to perfection. Your only job is to trust it and listen. Q: What is your body saying to you? Principle #2 Trust Your Intuition. It is important when overcoming obstacles and learning to break through barriers that you begin to listen to the still small voice of your body. In most cases, we all want the comfort of having someone telling us what we can and cannot do. However, our highest truth lies within us. This is not to say that the good opinion of others is not important, but ultimately the decision making comes from within. When facing a challenge or an obstacle look to how you feel. What are your instincts telling you? Often it is simply your instinct that will move you into a new mindset and raise your consciousness. "I wasn't about to let the wheelchair stand in my way," Tom tells me. In fact, he says he had to merely change his perspective about it. He says he first had to learn about what his restrictions were then, create a boundary for himself. "We all have boundaries," he tells me. "Regardless if a person can walk or not, obstacles are as unique as people themselves. Therefore, it's first best to know your boundaries." Next, Tom tells me he aims to meet those boundaries. "I first reach as high as I can within the confines of what I am able to do. Whether it be more sets, reps, or greater endurance, I allow myself as much time as necessary to accomplish my small goals. It always surprises me, with small steps, how quickly I can reach a Big goal." Principle #3 Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night. What then, about fear? I wanted to know. If we move into the fear and meet it eye to eye what if fear meets us there? "So," I asked Tom: "are you ever afraid? "After 19 operations in my life, I've really come to terms with fear," he says. "It really comes down to our most primal fear; fear of death. Once you realize that death is all part of the divine plan, it's liberating, you can let it go and, instead, choose how to live. So instead of being afraid of death I decided to choose how to live." So what's the take away message? Talking to Tom, I'm reminded of the poem by Dylan Thomas who said: "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night." It seems appropriate here. The bottom line: Staying afraid often keeps us from truly living. Tom reminds me that a positive attitude is key, "Life is all about attitude." He also says he could let fear beat him down, yet he doesn't. "I wouldn't want to miss being part of tomorrow," he concludes. That said, what fears are getting in your way? Make today the right time to face them. In conclusion: Life Beyond The Boundaries. When you've faced your fears and pushed your boundaries to the edges, what then? I wanted to know. Tom smiles. "Find a new mountain to climb," he says matter-of-factly. "It's what makes life fun. I know I have considerations. I know that there will be days that I'll need to stay in bed and rest while my braces are getting tuned up. It's those times when I am with my thoughts that I decide what I am going to set my sights on." Author's Note: In my personal quest to live beyond the boundaries I've chosen Tom as my role model (lucky for me, he's my brother). We so often look to the media for these sources and so often they are illusory. There are "real" people everywhere doing great things...look around you; angels are everywhere! Learn from them. Choose someone you look up to, admire or of whom you appreciate their values. Set goals, climb mountains! Set intention in motion and enjoy the healthy process. Tom can be reached at vettman@rochester.rr.com *** Laura Turner, C.P.T wants to help you build a Brand New Body in 2004. She is building an Online Fitness Community at===> http://www.1brand-new-body.com. Set goals, Lose Weight, Get Fit and healthy. No more excuses! Start now. ================================================= Your Feedback ================================================= Your questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome. Just e-mail me at: stevekerr@ev1.net with "Feedback" as the subject. Your e-mail address will not be published, and only your first name or initials will be used. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. ~*~*~*~*~ Thank you for using my article in your ezine. I will be looking forward to reading more of Adaptive Sports! You are truly an inspiration. Laura M. Turner - Writer/Publisher Violet Prose Publications "Changing The World Through Words" http://www.new-body-news.com ================================================= On Deck ================================================= Here's a peek at what's coming up in the next issue. * International Bicycle Tours has been conducting bike tours in Europe and various other countries around the world since 1976. They welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, even the disabled. Read about them in the next "Spotlight" section. * Even after a motorcycle accident forced Ron Mann to have his left leg amputated, he still continues to enjoy the sport he loves: martial arts. Read his story in the next "Profile". * In "Keeping Fit", John Gibb explains how important stretching exercises are before a workout. ================================================= Feature Ad ================================================= Like our Newsletter? Please vote for our ezine! Visit: http://www.ezine-marketing.com/cgi-bin/ezsearch/vote.cgi?ID=1094716097 ================================================= Contact Information ================================================= Stephen Michael Kerr, Publisher stevekerr@ev1.net 1218 Hughmont Dr. Pflugerville, Tx 78660 Subscriptions to Adaptive Sports & Recreation are free. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to: 41809-subscribe@zinester.com To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to: 41809-unsubscribe@zinester.com ================================================= Disclaimer ================================================= Although we believe our advertisers to be honest in their business practices, we cannot be held responsible for the products or services they offer. Please make sure to check out all offers before you buy. http://archives.zinester.com/41809/29508.html |
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