An Enlightening Day

To the Editor:

I ski almost every weekend in the summer months… enjoying the rush of the spray on my face, the speed of the boat, the feeling of freedom that fellow skiers will agree is worth waiting all winter long for.

One Friday night a friend from the club mentioned that we (Bantam Lake Ski Club) had been asked to volunteer at a disabled water ski clinic on Lake Zoar the following day, so early in the morning, we met up and drove to Joel Zeisler’s place on Lake Zoar, not really knowing what to expect.

Well that day turned out to be one of the most enlightening and satisfying days of my life. We had the pleasure of helping around 20 wonderful people… ranging from teenagers to adults, with various disabilities, to experience the liberation that the water brings. In their chair-skis, they skimmed across the water, smiling and feeling that “rush” that we all feel. Our job was to “side ski,” one of us each side holding the rope with one hand and the chair-ski in the other as the boat pulled the skier out of the water. I saw determination, drive, and most of all lots of fun out there.

I also had the opportunity to sit in the boat with the task of releasing the chair ski (one time with a mother next to me watching her son, who will never walk, learn to ski). I will never forget the looks on those kids’ faces.

I simply could not believe the dedication of Joel and his club members who make all this possible. The boat drivers, the side skiers, the organizers, the guys who lift in and out of chairs — they all formed a great team who together made this wonderful experience of water skiing possible for some really amazing individuals who want to experience fun on the water. Let it continue!

Claire Richardson

Bantam Lake Ski Club

Pimpewaug Road, Wilton                                         November 4, 2008