Disabled participate in Wateriest By Jennifer Cosgrove »re s : i * f • • Nearly 40 phy sically disabled persons participated in the the seventh annual Victor Wnlder Memorial VVaterFest at Fern Ridge Reservoir F'riday and Sai urdnv at the Eugene Yccht Club Sponsored by the city of Eugene Specialized Recreation Program ami the Oregon Reha bilitation Center at Sacred Heart General Hospital, tin? WaterFest lies been traditionally designed lo offer individuals with physi cal limitations the opportunity to learn about many water sports, including how to water-ski. sail ing. bass fishing, ocean kayaking and rowing Also, eac h year dif ferent manufacturers have pre sented to partic ipant; selected types of adaptive equipment for anyone physically challenged to use* "I look forward to this week end ac tivitv every y ear It 's my vacation time to get out on the water and meet new people from all over Oregon." said Terry Fee. a fifth-year participant and resi dent of Grants Pass. This year for the first time, the WaterFest had instructors with expertise in teaching water-ski ing for persons with physical dis abilities or visual impairments Every year, the WaterFest has fea tured the Kan Ski. a water-ski especially designed to enable phy sic ally disabled people to water-ski. "I love trying to water-ski at the fest It's really great because then* are divers to help you before to get up and fie there for you after wards to help you swim. I felt really safe, it was great to escape from gravity." said 17-year-old Ryan Skelton, a junior at South Eugene High School "Our program activities extend for all kinds of physic ally dis allied or visually impaired peo ple." specialized recreation pro grain coordinator Sue Hamly said. "The participants ages range from 11 years old and on. The goals we want in the annual VVaterFest accomplished arc* for everyone to just enjoy themselves and learn skills to take bac k with them to use around the water." With the exception of a low turn-out this year because of had weather, the VVaterFest program has had an average of almost 90 people from all over the state reg istering each year. Tha Victor Walder Memorial Wateriest is the pfcrfo t>y Thorny* Mrgnwn Participant Christa Bucks spent her Friday afternoon water-skiing In the seventh annual WaterFest at Fern Ridae Reservoir. only water-related activity spon sored in Oregon for persons with phvsu at disabilities, ilanilv said Sacred Heart recreational ther apist Tim Shearer and |ohn Smith, a theraputic recreational clinical coordinator also a! Sai red Heart, have remained in charge of the WaterFest together with Hurnly since they originated the program lit l‘)87 "Generally, we contai t people to become WaterFest participants through friends, mailing lists and members the Oregon Rehabili tation ( enter and Special Recre ation Department," Shearer said "We want to encourage people with any kind of physii al dis abilities to come out and try sail ing. kayaking or water skiing on their own or just learn how to do it with the equipment provided " "We’ve gotten tremendous sup port from many local sponsors, food donors and volunteers each year for the WaterFest." said co (oordinator |ohn Smith Numliering to almost too peo pit) each vear. WaterFest volun teers range widely in their efforts to help the fest run smoothly "Our volunteers work as fife guards. divers, sail boat assis tants. first aid. water instrut tors, kitchen help or as registration staff." Ilarniy said. "The Finer aid Valley Water Ski Club has supplied skiing equipment every year for the WaterFest Celhiar One offered cordless phones and walkie-talkies for personnel on the ImmiI doc ks, crew memlters on the sailing or skiing Imats and for the divers and yvater instructors to use." So many people do sports without any restrictions.” said participant Gary Scholl, an employee for the University finance department. "That’s the best thing about this annual weekend fest: No limits ” Stations raise funds for flood By Garin Gonzales •