More than 70 people met at Chapman Lake in Jermyn for the annual Individual Abilities in Motion (I AM) Adaptive Water Skiing event.
The weather was perfect on Saturday, July 27, while 19 people with mobility impairments took to the water to waterski. Twenty-one volunteers some from the University of Scranton and Leaps of Faith Adaptive Skiers from Connecticut assisted people on the water. Some skiers had volunteers on each side, while some only required one assistant. By the end of the day some needed no help at all in the water.
Each waterski has a seat and is placed on an outrigger to keep the ski balanced.
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Tom Gibbs, of Justus, waves as he water skis past the beach at Chapman Lake in Jermyn. Individual Abilities in Motion (I AM) Volunteer Jim Kovoleski skis alongside him.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Volunteers from Individual Abilities in Motion guide waterskiers on Lake Chapman on Saturday, July 27.
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Tom Gibbs of Justus waterskis on Chapman Lake on Saturday, July 27, while volunteer Jim Kovoleski guides him.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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A mat helps guide waterskiiers out of the water.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Some of the adaptive waterskis and outriggers sit on the shore of Lake Chapman in Jermyn.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Steph Paullo, Shane McKeon and Brian Briggs adjust an adaptive sit ski during an Individual Abilities in Motion (I AM) Adaptive Water Skiing event on Saturday, July 27.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Hugh Doyle attaches a rope line to the adaptive waterski for Lisa Casey.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Lisa Casey, of Carbondale, waits on the shore of Lake Chapman in Jermyn to waterski for the first time.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Lisa Casey, of Carbondale, prepares to waterski for the first time.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Brian Dwyer is guided by Jim Kovoleski and Ken Srebro.
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Jim Kovoleski and Ken Srebro guides Brian Dwyer onto Chapman Lake to waterski.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Brian Dwyer waits to hit the water in his adaptive waterski.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Brian Dwyer wades into Chapman Lake to waterski.
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Ciarlo Lipless, 13, waves to his mom before going waterskiing for the first time. Jim Kovoleski and Hugh Doyle assisted Lipless.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Ciarlo Lipless, 13, waterskis alongside volunteer Jim Kovoleski. Lipless came from Doytlestown to try waterskiing. The 13-year-old has spina bifida and competes in wheelchair basketball with hopes on participating in the Paraolympics.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Ciarlo Lipless, 13, waterskis on Chapman Lake in Jermyn on Saturday, July 27.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Ciarlo Lipless, 13, skis alongside volunteer Jim Kovoleski.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Paul Guzzi, of Carbondale, was the first waterskiier of the day.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Volunteer Jerry Major throws lines to the waterskiiers at Chapman Lake in Jermyn on Saturday, July 27.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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A jetski follows behind the skiier in case help is needed during Individual Abilities in Motion's (I AM) waterskiing event.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
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Barbara Siniawa Zinsky waterskis unassisted during Individual Abilities in Motion's Adaptive Water Skiing Day at Lake Chapman in Jermyn.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
I AM hosts a variety of events throughout the year for people with mobility issues, including cycling events, off-roading and wheelchair basketball.
