With summer nearly at its end Sunday, September 21, the Leaps of Faith (LOF) Adaptive Skiers made the most of a local marina.

As a way of saying thank you to the community, the LOF volunteers held a first-time event, Ski Newtown, a free day of water sports for Newtown children ages 7–18. The picnic/ski event took place at Eichler’s Cove Marina. According to the LOF Facebook page, “This event was designed to teach beginners how to water ski or wakeboard and help intermediate skiers/boarders advance to the next level.”

The organization also thanked the Newtown community for being “incredibly supportive of our efforts this year, so we wanted to host an event that was open to all Newtown families with kids.” The event’s Facebook page offered “special thanks to our amazing volunteers and to Newtown Parks & Recreation Director Amy Mangold,” who granted use of  Eichler’s Cove, a town-owned marina, beach, and boat launch.

Standing side-by-side and wrapped in towels after a morning in the water were friends Fallyn Kurlin and Elise Johnson, who both tried water skiing for the first time Sunday. They both agreed: “It’s a lot of fun, a good experience.” With the lake rippling behind them the girls faced toward shore where a variety of water ski equipment sat waiting for the next participant. At the water’s edge and playing in the sand were a group of children in bathing suits, while throughout the town park were parents, LOF volunteers, and guests preparing lunch in the picnic area.

Watching the ski event with his young son Owen (too young for the water skis), was Shaun Hannah. While he swung Owen through the air as the little boy broke out in a shy grin, Mr Hannah glanced at the lake where his daughter Emma skied that day.

In a follow-up statement to the event, LOF Executive Director Joel Zeisler said, “We could not have asked for a better turnout or for a more talented group of kids from Newtown.” While most participants were beginners, some were intermediates and advanced. The group was in the water all morning and competed in a Tournament/Exhibition in the afternoon, “which was absolutely wonderful to watch,” Mr Zeisler said.

This was the first time LOF hosted Ski Newtown and, “given the extremely positive feedback from the kids and their parents, we hope to hold more next summer,” he said.

Founded in 1991 and located on Lake Zoar in Sandy Hook, LOF Adaptive Skiers is a nonprofit organization where children, adults, and wounded veterans with disabilities and special needs come to meet for life-changing adaptive sports experiences and meaningful connections. LOF Adaptive Skiers runs one of the largest and safest adaptive water sports programs in the country.  In addition to water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing and kayaking, LOF Adaptive Skiers offers beginner level snow ski and snowboard instruction during the winter months. LOF Adaptive Skiers is a volunteer staffed, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.   For more information, LOFAdaptiveSkiers.org or 203-426-0666.

To view photos from Sunday see the gallery on the Leaps of Faith Disabled Skiers Ski Newtown post.