Summer tradition helps people with disabilities enjoy water activities

July 23--CONNEAUT LAKE -- The sound of "woohoo" could be heard from the shore as 8-year-old Henry Moss scooted along the waves during a picture-perfect day on the waters of Conneaut Lake this week. Moss' family watched Henry experience the thrill of water skiing for the first time as part of a clinic that allows people with disabilities to take part in four days of activities they don't typically get to enjoy.

The 26th Annual Three Rivers Adaptive Sports Adaptive Water Sports Clinic for people with disabilities was held at the Iroquois Boating and Fishing Club this past week. The clinic is open to people with any type of disability including leg and arm amputation, spinal cord injuries, arthritis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, orthopedic disabilities, polio and survivors of stroke and brain injury. Adaptive equipment includes kayaks and canoes with adaptive seats and paddles, hand cycles, recumbent trikes, adult trikes and the extremely popular adaptive water skis.

Once the boat took off with Moss behind on the adaptive water ski equipment, he could barely be seen above the waves.

Moss has dwarfism, which is a medical condition that leads to slow growth. In humans, dwarfism is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet, 10 inches.

What Moss lacks in height, he makes up for it in enthusiasm.

His parents, Natalie and Seth and 4-year-old brother Landon watched cautiously as Henry was strapped in for his excursion. The volunteers getting Henry ready for his adventure gave him one not-so serious bit of advice -- "No smiling Henry," they yelled as he took off.

Seth admitted he would like to be a passenger on the jet ski that follows behind each of the water skiers, but he settled for the best vantage point he could find from a nearby dock.

Natalie, Seth and Landon all cheered and waved as Henry flew by for his second time around the lake and yelled "woohoo" at his family. "He's smiling and yelling," Seth said. "He won't let go to wave, but I can tell he's really having fun."

The Moss family may not realize it yet, but this event may become a summer tradition. The family lives not far away in Union City, so the commute is definitely doable, according to Seth.

"We have to make sure Landon has fun too," Natalie said. "It's all about giving both boys every opportunity we can to experience everything they want to do."

Mark Busha, 35, of Finleyville, and his parents have been making the trip to Conneaut Lake for the clinic for about 20 years. The yearly clinic is the only chance Mark gets to leave his wheelchair on the shore and water ski around the lake.

"I love it," Mark said. "Water skiing is my favorite."

Mark's mother, Norma, describes her son as "very motivated."

"Mark works five days a week and he's a member of our local volunteer fire department," she said. "He would never miss his chance to water ski, but he also likes to snow ski."

"We go to Holiday Valley every year to ski," Mark said. "It's great."

Barbi Baum started the local event 26 years ago much like many events begin, with a small group of friends who wanted to snow ski and do other activities in which they couldn't typically take part. Baum isn't a native of Conneaut Lake, but she has fond memories of vacationing at her family's cottage at the lake every summer.

"I don't live here year-round, but I have a place here," she said.

Throughout the 26 years of the event, Baum said there have been many fundraisers to buy more equipment to accommodate more people. "The hand cycles are pretty popular," Baum said. "After they do the water sports a lot of people like to cruise around on a bike."

Baum's dream is to see the event continue to grow and provide a place for people with disabilities to have fun, whether it's their first time or their 20th.

"My generation got it started," Baum said. "Now my nieces are taking part, and I hope the tradition continues for future generations."

Lorri Drumm can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at lorrid@meadvilletribune.com.

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