• Water Skiing

• Meets ADA standards
• Accessible areas of building: shower facilities, parking area, ramps

• Staff Training: Volunteers have therapeutic recreation backgrounds.

• Adaptive equipment available
  adaptive water-skis, outriggers, knee-boards, stand-up skis.

• Fee to participate in the Program : Sliding/ Adjusted fee scales or discounts are available for people with disabilities.

• Accessible by Public Transportation: No
  
  
• Transportation Provided by the Program: No

Metroplex Adaptive Water Sports (MAWS), is a division of the Southwest Wheelchair Athletic Association (SWAA), based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas. We are a non-profit, volunteer driven organization dedicated to providing opportunities for persons with all types of disabilities to experience water sports. The emphasis is on water skiing, utilizing specialized "sit skis" to provide a safe, enjoyable skiing experience, regardless of the level of disability.

MAWS, originally part of the Health South Sports Program, has been involved in adaptive water sports since 1994. Blaine and Belynda Bridgford are the founders of the program and continue to spearhead its growth and development. MAWS regularly hosts low cost clinics for all levels of skiers and also provides water skiing services for other programs and events.

MAWS provides two types of clinics as described below:

General Clinic
These clinics are usually held on smaller area lakes where there is not a lot of interference from other boats, etc. They are open to all levels of disabilities and can provide a rewarding experience for anyone, from the first timer to the veteran skier. At these clinics, safety personnel on Personal Water Craft (PWCs) follow the skiers and are in a position to render aid if necessary and can help skiers restart when they fall. There are usually 20 to 40 participants per day in this type of clinic.

Advanced Clinic
These clinics are typically held on private, tournament ski lakes, like Pecan Cove in Waxahachie. They are appropriate only for those skiers who have demonstrated an ability to ski with the rope in their hand, the ability to negotiate turns, and those that have a comfort level in the water that does not necessitate the use of PWC chase vehicles as described above. These clinics typically offer skiers great water conditions and an opportunity to improve their skills. Usually, there is a slalom course available for those who want to try their hand at tournament skiing. There is a maximum enrollment of 15 skiers in advanced clinics.