Webster Water Ski Collective to host free water ski clinic for veterans Wednesday

SHREWSBURY — The Webster Water Ski Collective will host a free water skiing clinic for veterans at Lake Quinsigamond on Wednesday.

The event is only one of 14 events across the country specifically for veterans, with the goal of improving their independence and quality of life. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is a partner.

The Webster Water Ski Collective is a USA Water Ski-affiliated ski club created in 2019. In 2020, it added an adaptive ski program, the only program in Massachusetts that hosts disabled members of the community.

"It's 100% free for veterans and it's to try and improve their well-being and quality of life through getting them on the water and participating in the sport," said Ryan DesRoches, director of adaptive skiing with the collective.

The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Donahue Rowing Center at Lake Quinsigamond. Organizers will offer water ski lessons for all veterans and will accommodate for physical or cognitive injuries.

"I would say most of the people that are coming suffer from either PTSD or have another kind of physical or cognitive problem," DesRoches said. "Part of our mission at Webster Water Ski Collective is to make water skiing available to anybody, regardless of their age or ability."

This is the collective's fifth year hosting adaptive water skiing lessons.

"Adaptive skiing is exactly what it sounds like, it's making skiing adaptable for people with various types of disabilities," DesRoches said. "We start off typically with the safest unit we have, which has outriggers on the side of it to make it very unlikely to tip over."

DesRoches said once the participant is more comfortable, the staff can take the outriggers off.

The goal is to give veterans and service members the chance to improve their independence. In addition to water ski lessons, food is provided.

The space is limited, so veterans interested are encouraged to register on the USA Water Ski's veterans site .

"Our No. 1 goal is to show them a good time. To have them come out and have a fantastic day on the water with their peers," DesRoches said. "We are trying to promote independence and we are trying to get disabled veterans feel more confident in themselves and the abilities."

A similar event was held in 2022 .

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Webster Water Ski Collective to host free water ski clinic for veterans Wednesday