Blind Skiing
There are many great athletes that are mobility challenged and are probably in better shape than the author of this blog. Wheelchair basketball has probably received the most attention, but there are a great number of other sports that people in wheelchairs and those that are mobility challenged participate in. Water sports are very popular and it is not only those who are not able to walk that enjoy them. Blind Waterskiing is very popular and there are many strong and brave athletes around the world that participate in it.
One man, Gerald Price, is well known in the blind waterskiing circle and in 2004 set a world speed record for blind waterskiing. This achievement alone is very impressive, but Price was 70 years old when he set this record and is still very active today. Last month, in protest to a recent ban on motor boats at England’s largest lake, Price skied around the lake at speeds of up to 28 miles per hour.
Price stated that he did not do it to break the law, but to raise awareness to what he feels are draconian laws. He said that he felt robbed of his enjoyment by the ban that does not allow boats to travel more than 10 miles per hour while on the lake.
At 74 years old, Gerald Price is still very active in the blind skiing community and is a very strong and brave athlete. He is joined by many others who have overcome their disability and use sports as a way of freeing their mind and their body.
