Disabled Skiers Soar at Du Quoin State Fair

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ You don't have to go any farther than the ski lake at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds to all weekend during the Disabled Water Ski Nationals, a tournament held for those with disabilities.

Some skiers didn't have legs. Others didn't have an arm or arms--others were even blind-- but they skied like the wind and thrilled those who stood on the banks of the storied lake to watch.

One of them was Craig Timm, 37, of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, now a resident of Lindstrom, Minnesota. At 6-feet-2 and 185 pounds he works as an information systems auditor. He began skiing at the age of 12 and began competing nationally at the age of 24.

He lost his right arm in a farming accident at the age of two.

His events include the slalom, tricks, and jump competitions.

He's a remarkable man and a remarkable skier, who is looking to retire from the sport shortly after setting examples for athletes everywhere. He's the current national champion and on Saturday was only two-tenths of a meter off the world mark.

He has more than 25 national skiing titles to his credit. But, he is mild-mannered, almost humble and he lives his great life as if he has no handicap at all.

The 20th disabled water ski championships concluded Saturday at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds after disabled skiers competed for three days.

The disabled nationals featured disabled water ski athletes competing for the national titles in slalom, tricks, jumping and overall.

Within each event, skiers who were partially (V2, V3) or totally blind (V1), paraplegic or quadriplegic (MP1, MP2, MP3) and arm and/or leg disabilities (with or without prosthesis) compete against athletes with the same disabilities. There were two rounds of competition and event winners were based on a two-round total, while the overall winners were based on overall points from the best scores of either round.

The 2009 U.S. disabled team that emerged from the meet will include Bill Furbish, Chad Guzman, Steve Hornsey, Chet Kuskowski, Katie Mawby, Jessica Radmilovic, Joe Ray, Daniel Reed, Raquel Roney, Mike Royal and Craig Timm. Bill and Denise Bowness will serve as co-captains.