DARRYL HOYLE - IWWF MALE DISABLED ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Delphine and Darryl.

It gives me great pleasure to inform the two of you that the IWWF Disabled Council has selected you two as our female and male IWWF Disabled Athletes of the Year.

Your names will now be submitted to the IWWF for consideration for the prestigious titles of IWWF Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

Your performances at our World Championships were outstanding and setting a world record in any calendar year is a huge achievement.

Thanks and again well-deserved congratulations.

Jim Grew, IWWF Disabled Council Chair

JAMIE MCDONALD - ELITE ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY - VIC

its great to be able to tell you that Jamie McDonald / Waterski athlete and former VDSAC delegate, received the Award of Excellence in the EAWD category at the Vic Institute of Sport Awards last week....Congratulations to Jamie! The Victorian Institute of Sport award of escellence for "Elite Athlete
with a Disability 2011 (EAD) was sponsored by "Misashi".

NATIONAL TRAINING CAMP - PORT MACQUARIE

A Disabled Training Camp was held at Stoney Park, Port Macquarie over the weekend 26/27 Nov. The training covered slalom, jump and trick. There were several new skiers in attendence. Big thanks to Stoney Park for accommodating us, Al for the great coaching and Billy for the great driving skills in windy conditions. Full story coming soon with pictures...

2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - WEST CHESTER, OHIO, USA

August 17th 2011 saw the start of the World Water Ski Championship trip for the Australian team, Darryl Hoyle, Belinda Sidman, Jamie McDonald & myself (Ian Hickmott). We were gratefully accompanied by team manager, Noel Dix, chief boat driver Kevin Wiseman and Glen Sidman as the team’s general assistant.

Our first group meeting point was Sydney International Airport, where we flew direct to LA, followed by another relatively quick flight to Cincinnati. Noel, who then took over the team’s next port of transportation as driver to the hotel, needed only a quick reminder (from an on-coming semi-trailer) what lane he was meant to be driving in. I think I can speak for the team, when I say “our hearts almost jumped out of our bodies”.

We first stayed in the same hotel in Cincinnati as the American team, where we would also train together on a private lake for 3 days prior to the competition. Unfortunately on the second day it was discovered I had taken all the skin off my lower back. This left me bedridden for the remainder of the training period, in hope that it would heal well enough to allow me to compete. The remainder of the team was really happy with the training location and facilities.

We then moved to another hotel in West Chester where we met up with the other teams from around the world. All up there were 39 competitors. We were also joined by some really windy and stormy weather due to a hurricane moving up the east coast.

Before competition started there was another three days of familiarizations, where each competitor was grouped into their division, depending on their abilities. The competition was going to be hard as all 3 mp divisions had to compete against each other for the first time at the worlds.

Trick and slalom were held on the first day. Darryl made both finals, while Belinda made it into the slalom final. Day two showed the jump heats, with Darryl, Jamie & myself all making finals. Belinda performed great and brought home a bronze medal for slalom on day three. The trick finals were also held on this day.

Darryl had a great effort and broke his record in jump on the fourth day by one meter, reaching a new 26.3 metre mark. I jumped my personal best of 15.9 meters and placed 6th.

Jamie had serious complications with his elbow. The Victorian Institute of Sport Physiotherapists worked on it for months, culminating in injections directly into tendon. Jamie trained lightly at Bushy Browns Adventure Ski Park in QLD for a week prior to leaving. He injured his hand in off-site training with US team while practicing for the jump event. His board was broken but repaired with help from Glen Sidman & also the Team USA. Jamie went on to break his own World Jump Record by 1.2m now 17.4m (adjusted score 5.8). (not 5.8m) Jamie won 4 medals in the Standing Division - Slalom: Silver, Tricks: Gold, Jump: Gold, Overall: Gold.

The closing ceremony dinner and presentation was also held on the evening of the fourth day. Darryl placed 2nd out of sit skiers division and placed 2nd overall. It was a great night with all the skiers celebrating a good event, having the opportunity to say goodbye and talking about preparations and regrouping in 2013 for the next Worlds in Italy.

I would personally like to say a big thank you to Noel for preparing and organising the Australian team - it wouldn’t of happened without him! Thanks also to Kevin & Glen as they were a massive help to all of us and a quick mention and thanks to Nick Purcell who also helped out in the boat.

See you all again at the next comp!

Ian Hickmott

2011 NATIONALS was held from 21st - 25th APRIL IN TOWNSVILLE

Click here for the results...

On Thursday 21st – 25th April the National Water Ski Championships were held on the Ross River in Townsville. The event was superbly run by WaterskiQLD and the Townsville Water Ski Club on behalf of TWSA (Tournament Water Ski Australia).

A small group of disabled skiers attended the event with several new faces which was good to see. Thursday was our first event and slalom was held at the Loam Island venue which provided great viewing for spectators. Belinda Sidman stole the show beating her own Australian record skiing into 52kmph on the inner course for MP3 women. New skiers Robin Cook and Ian Hickmott (MP2) ran their first slalom passes and ran into 43kmph (inner).

Early Friday saw the trick event followed by the Jump. These events were held on the river in front of the Thuringowa Riverway Complex where the Disabled Worlds were held back in 2007. Belinda again stole the show equalling the women’s MP3 trick record. Darryl and Scott both jumped consistently and Ian Hickmott tried his luck on a 1.5m ramp but unfortunately crashed.

In the finals on Saturday, Belinda (MP3 Women), Darryl (MP3 Men) and Scott (MP2 Men) won the slalom event in their respective divisions. Second in MP2 men was Robin Cook and Ian Hickmott third. Sunday saw the results repeated for trick and jump. Darryl equalled his Australian trick record. In the jump event, the ramp was lowered to 1.25m due to a strong headwind. Ian Hickmott landed 3 good jumps all over 11 metres at his first Nationals.

At the presentation dinner on Monday night the team was announced for the 2011 Worlds this year in Ohio, USA. The team is Belinda Sidman (Captain), Darryl Hoyle and Jamie MacDonald. Scott Wintle was unable to attend as his fiancée Eliza is due to give birth to their second child in early June. Good luck to the team in the States.

AWWF Disabled Training Camp @ Stoney Park, 27/28 Nov 2010

A National Training Camp for Disabled Water Skiers was held at Stoney Park over the weekend 27/28 Nov. There was a very good turnout of 13 skiers with participants coming from NT, Qld, NSW, Vic & Tas plus a number of volunteer helpers. Those attending included a vision impaired skier, one Arm/Leg skier, and 11 sit skiers. Of these, 5 were new members being introduced to the slalom course and jump for the first time.

The Stoney Park Crew of Jason, Sinead, Anissa and Kim were all very supportive of the camp and Al Vickers did a great job of coaching over the two days.

Weather was a bit ordinary with some rain and wind but otherwise manageable. All managed at least 4 sets over the weekend with coaching in all three events. The new sit skiers were all very keen on the jump and it was fabulous to watch each of the new jumpers ski away from their first successful jump to the applause of all the onlookers.

“Kamikazi” Jamie was a bit of a worry trying to jump standing up with one arm and one leg and after 6 crashes gave it away.

All in all a very successful camp and all are looking forward to another one next year.
My thanks to all the helpers (partners, family and friends), Al and the Stoney Park Crew.

The following is a report from one of the new sit skiers.

Disabled Water Ski Training Camp - Port Macquarie, NSW
By Ian Hickmott

On the 26th & 27th of November I attended my first Disabled Water Ski Training camp. After the 10hr drive from Dalby in Qld it was great to rock up at the biggest ski park I have ever seen. Upon arrival, Noel Dix greeted us & showed us around.

Friday afternoon was spent meeting all the skiers that had travelled to the event as well as our coach for the weekend, Alan. It was great to see people that have travelled so far for the event, like Cam from Tasmania & Cain from Darwin.

On Saturday the training kicked off at 8.30am. Tricking was first up as the weather was windy with the odd shower. After lunch some people did slalom & others hit the jump for the first time which was great to see. Attached is a picture of me going over the jump for the second time on Sunday morning. I am happy to report there were no casualties.

Thanks to Noel & Halina for putting on a great BBQ for all to enjoy on Saturday night. Sunday morning most of us were pretty sore. The day started with jump because the weather was a lot better. It finished with slalom after lunch. It was great to watch the more experienced skiers like Scott Wintle & Darryl Hoyle carve up the water & show us how it is done. I’m pretty sure everybody had an awesome weekend & would hope for another one soon. Thanks to Noel for everything he has done. Thanks also to Alan, Scott & Darryl for teaching us & driving the boat and everybody who helped move gear around and supplied skis. The weekend would not be possible without you!

2010 NATIONALS was held from 1st - 5th APRIL AT BONNEY'S WATERSKI PARK, WA.

Click here for the results...

Disabled Water Skiing in Australia

Water skiing is for everybody, and everybody can do it!

Click to download the 2010 Competition Handbook - Water Skiing for the Disabled (Word format)

Click to download the 2010 Competition Handbook - Water Skiing for the Disabled Addendum Classification Appendicies.

Click here to download the IWWF Disabled Rule Book.

Categories:

Sit Skiers (Multi-plegic) (MP)

These are skiers with disabilities such as spinal cord injuries (paraplegia, quadriplegia), bilateral leg amputations, or other conditions which affect the lower limbs. There are 3 categories within this division.

Multiple-plegics and double leg amputees shall be classified in categories MP1, MP2 and MP3 as defined in the MP Classification section of the Competition Handbook Water Ski for the Disabled. General guidelines are as follows:

MP1: Athletes unable to utilise the majority of their trunk musculature and rise from their knees without arm support. They lack full use of their upper extremities. Typically, they do not have adequate grip strength and may utilise their forearms or wrists to hold the handle.

MP2: Athletes able to use their upper trunk muscles and raise their body partially from their knees in the skiing position. Typically, they have full use of their upper extremities.

MP3: Athletes with good use of the majority of their trunk muscles, possibly including abdominal's. Typically, they are able to raise the trunk from their knees in the skiing position and have full use of their upper extremities.

Vision Impairments

Skiers with vision impairments or who are totally blind. Skiers use an audio device for slalom skiing and a guide for jumps.

There are 2 categories in the V division.

Leg Division

Skiers who have an above or below knee amputation.

Skiers can ski with or without their prosthesis.

Arm Division

Skiers have either an arm amputation or impairment of one arm (eg. brachial plexus injury).

Arm & Leg Division

This division is for skiers who have an impairment of an upper and a lower limbs. Skiers may have hemiplegia as a result of a stroke or brain injury, they may have amputations or a congenital disability.

Archive>2009 Nationals (Click here)

Archive>2008 Nationals (Click Here)

The Australian Disabled Water Ski Team is proudly supported by: (Click on the image to go to their website)