Adaptive water skier Terry Hayes with side skiers Brody Stewart (left) and James Hubert (right).
Photography: Dianna Lipscomb

Adaptive water skier Terry Hayes with side skiers Brody Stewart (left) and James Hubert (right).

NewsAdaptive3-Event

USA-WSWS Receives Adaptive Sports Grant From U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs

by Scott N. Atkinson

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is pleased to announce it has received an Adaptive Sports Grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events Office (NVSP&SE) to conduct the Veterans Learn to Water Ski Program.


The mission of the NVSP&SE office is to provide opportunities for veterans to improve their independence, well-being, and quality of life through adaptive sports and therapeutic arts programs. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awards grants to qualifying organizations to plan, develop, manage, and implement programs to provide adaptive sports opportunities for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.


Now in its third year, the grant will assist USA Water Ski & Wake Sports in continuing and enhancing the Veterans Learn to Water Ski program. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is working with affiliated clubs in select focus states included in the grant to host 14 adaptive Veterans Learn to Water Ski Clinics. The Veterans Learn to Water Ski Program will provide opportunities for veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities the opportunity to improve their independence, well-being, and quality of life through adaptive water skiing. The clinics will be open to veterans and members of the Armed Services who have a range of disabilities, including those living with traumatic brain injuries, polytrauma, spinal cord injuries, PTSD, vision impairment/loss, or amputation(s).


“We are honored to be the recipient of an Adaptive Sports Grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Molly Crum, program administrator for the Veterans Learn to Water Ski Program. “Through our previous events we have seen that veterans enjoy water skiing and we look forward to creating more opportunities for veterans and members of the armed services to get involved in the sport of water skiing.”