I have never really been involved in team sports and wheelchair specific
ones don't really interest me. I don't do enough training to take them
seriously. (Part of that old problem of not enough time or money and too
much time and energy spent earning a crust.)
Snow skiing has been enjoyed since 1988, I use
a ski designed by George McPherson in 1987 and further developed with
my collaboration. For further details of this, with photos and a story
of the design process, I have included a copy
of a CadUser article. There is also information on the snow ski or
Sit-Bo design that has been developed by
George and myself. Water skiing was a sport I got back into in 1996,
I collected what information was available, then designed and built my
own ski. For further details on my water skiing, with photos, jump to
the water skiing page. Mid 1997, at a boat show, I saw a cute little yacht design suitable for
someone of my physical ability to sail single handed. Subsequently I saw
them again, and tried sailing them on the Yarra,
at a disability products expo in Melbourne. They are designed and manufactured
by a company here in Melbourne called Access Dinghies and are called the
'2.3' after their length of 2.3 metres. After talking to the people involved
and trying their new prototype '303' that is, you guessed it, 3.03 metres
long I now will have an interest that should get me outdoors and onto
the water a lot more. It is great to be able to sail independently in a simple but very effective
and safe yacht. With a weighted centreboard, deck-chair like seat inside,
steering via a joystick between your legs and a very simple sail, they
are very stable, even when pushed hard. Some models even have fully electric
steering and winching. I am able to sail their manual version of the 2.3
and 303 and will have some of my own photos soon. A web site with more
information is Sailability. SAAB automobiles have been my favourite cars since
1979 when the first 900s were promoted in Australia. I have driven them
since 1986. I love the original SAAB 900 combi coupe shape, its suitability
to wheelchair transfers and its safety features. For SAAB enthusiasts
check out my four wheel fetish.
My special interests are in yachting, water skiing, snow skiing and stunt
kite flying, along with designing and manufacturing equipment for those
sports. That way people, with disabilities like mine, can have abilities
instead of disabilities and join their friends in mainstream activities.
(I see my glass is half full not half empty!)