Adaptive water sports symposium encourages recreation for all

FINGER LAKE — “What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?”

That well-known question, first posed by the late televangelist Rev. Robert Schuller is, in a way, the driving force behind Challenge Alaska’s annual “Summer Splash” event, which asks people with disabilities to think not about what they can’t do, but what they want to do and how to accommodate those desires.

“This is one place where people can come where their disabilities are irrelevant,” said therapeutic recreation coordinator Jeff Dick at the event on Saturday.

For the past 12 years, Summer Splash has served the Southcentral Alaska community with support from the Palmer Elks Lodge on Finger Lake, where people with physical or mental disabilities and their families have the opportunity to go tubing, kayak, jet ski, water ski and more.

“If they’re willing to try we can get almost everyone to water ski,” Dick said, thanks to “creative minds” that have invented equipment like the adjustable, adaptive water ski.

While experienced adaptive athletes like Challenge Alaska instructor Andrew Kurka and sled hockey team captain Israel Hale may be expected to excel on the water, even the young Taylor Thompson took the plunge on Saturday — blind.

Thompson, who just finished eighth grade at Palmer Junior Middle School this year, has been blind for as long as she can remember, but has enjoyed running and cross country skiing with assistance for several years.

At Summer Splash this weekend, she experienced a lot of firsts.

“I’ve never done any of these things, ever,” Thompson said, after tubing and taking a lap around the lake on the sit-ski.

Thompson had two trained adaptive recreational therapists on either side of her for the water skiing adventure while she was seated in the adjustable “cage” connected to the ski. About 10 minutes later, she arrived back on shore to the applause of dozens in attendance.

“Let’s hear it for Taylor!” yelled therapist and volunteer Mike Caselle as he exited the water with the girl.

Thompson said afterward that she didn’t think she’d try water skiing a second time, but was glad she got the experience.

“At least I can say that I did it,” she said.

Nate Boltz, Thompson’s other assistant, was equally proud of the girl’s accomplishment.

“That made my day,” he said. “That made my summer.”

Boltz, like Caselle, has been an alpine ski instructor for Challenge Alaska for several years, and has enjoyed helping others discover their potential in various ways.

“Never underestimate the importance of recreation and the role it plays in a person’s happiness,” Boltz said.

He recalled one summer when a man who had been an experienced water skier showed up to the event, nervous about trying it again after becoming visually impaired late in life. To his surprise and Boltz’s joy, the skill came back naturally.

“It was just like riding a bike,” Boltz said.

Boltz’s occupation is also personal. His 9-year-old daughter, Anna, wears braces on both her legs, but thanks to her parents’ enthusiasm, has been alpine skiing since she was 2.

“My wife and I grew up skiing and water skiing, so when Anna was born with spina bifida, we wanted to find a way for her to enjoy those same things,” he said.

However, as mentioned earlier, Summer Splash is not just for the physically disabled.

Wasilla resident Tina Riley said the event has become something her 8-year-old, autistic son, Austin — who also has attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) — looks forward to every year.

“He just loves this because it’s all fast-paced, and that’s what he is,” she said.

Summer Splash is also a much-needed opportunity to hang out with friends from various places throughout Alaska, according to Wasilla resident and Challenge Alaska sled hockey athlete Stephanie Duke.

“For some people this is the only time of year to see each other,” she said.

Each of these things — discovering one’s potential, having fun and building relationships — Kurka said, are what make Summer Splash special.

“It’s good to have events like this to bring the community together and give people a chance to do adaptive sports and see what’s possible for them,” he said.

For more information about Challenge Alaska and its programs, visit www.challengealaska.org, or call 907-344-7399.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.