by Sam Bernstein, Program Manager

As the weather heats up, so do adaptive sports, and there is so much going on in New England this summer! Being a Marblehead native myself, I grew up on the water, so I love to talk about our sailing program with Community Boating Inc. There is nothing better than hopping on a boat on a beautiful Thursday afternoon and letting the Charles River breeze cool you down. Plus, family members can hop in the boat with the participant and learn the ropes (pun intended). If you’re more into using your strength as opposed to wind power, then join us and Community Rowing, Inc. on Saturdays for our Para teen rowing program. This was the first adaptive program I personally ever tried, and the staff over at CRI are fantastic at making you feel comfortable. If you’re not looking to immediately get out on the water, they have rowing machines and other devices to work on your technique with until you’re ready.

If it’s too hot outside the water for you, then maybe you’ll want to consider getting in with either our swim team or swim lessons. Our swim manager is Michael Prout Jr., a three-time Paralympian who coached Team USA in Tokyo, so there couldn’t be a better role model for these athletes. Swim lessons are ran at the Quincy YMCA with 1:1 instruction, while our swim team meets on Saturdays at Simmons University. Swim lessons are for youth with mobility or visual impairments who are looking to learn how to swim, while our swim team is for more advanced swimmers looking for fitness or a competition. We’re wrapping up swim lessons for the summer, but will be back in September.

For our racers, there are two different opportunities. The first is our wheelchair track program, which has a wide range of age and skill levels. Everyone thinks they are quick in their day chair, until they test out a racing chair and realize how fast they can really go. There’s some athletes, like our friend Delmace, who come to practice to prepare for their high school track meets and decrease lap time. Then there’s others, like our buddy Eric, who are starting to learn the sport and fall in love with it at an early age. My favorite part about track practice is new participants showing up and seeing our coaches, Andy and Katrina (both elite-level athletes), who are both in wheelchairs themselves. When an athlete sees a leader who looks similar to them, they feel more comfortable and get instruction from someone with experience. Getting this training in their youth will greatly benefit them in the future.

If you are looking to compete at a higher level, aka Move United Nationals, then you can qualify at the 2023 Adaptive Sports New England Track Meet. This will be in Braintree at the high school track, and will include the 60m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m. Ambulatory, visually-impaired and wheelchair racers compete at this meet, and it is great opportunity for anyone who wants to receive their official times. Last year’s Track Meet was one of the first adaptive racing events I had ever witnessed, and it absolutely blew my mind how fast these athletes are. I had to spend the following week on a treadmill to feel less bad about my own running abilities.

Whether it’s a team sport or an individual sport you’re looking for, join something this summer! It can be nerve-racking to try something new, but we have the best coaches and volunteers you could imagine, making sure you have an amazing experience. Your skill level shouldn’t limit you- Delmace has been racing with us for years, Eric for just months, and almost every week there’s someone brand new giving it a try. Give an Adaptive Sports New England program a shot, you may find a passion you never knew you had. I sure have!

Visit https://adaptivesportsne.org/events/ to see when programs are running in your area.