Organized chiropractic care has finally arrived to professional water skiing. In April of this year athletes from around the world gathered in Orlando, Florida for the first of nine stops scheduled on the 1991 ski tour. It was also the first time that chiropractic care was provided and approved by tour officials.
Terry Weyman, D.C., C.C.S.P., former intercollegiate water ski competitor has been placed in charge of all nine of the U.S. events. He headed up the Orlando team which included Dan Moroff D.C., C.C.S.P.; Mike Plaza, athletic trainer; Chris Noel, physical therapist; and chiropractic interns Brian Teachworth and Tony Klarich. Dr. Weyman's responsibilities are wide ranging and include organization of personnel for each stop and supervision of all treatments. "Helping these world class athletes to their peak performances is very rewarding," says Dr. Weyman. "A surprising number of the skiers are just now becoming aware of the positive results that chiropractic has to offer."
The professional water ski tour consists of competitions in jumping and slalom skiing along with the crowd pleasing exhibition acts like hotdogging, kneeboarding, and barefooting. In long distance jumping, skiers make a "cut" that accelerates them onto a six-foot ramp, catapulting them forward to speeds exceeding 60 mph. It usually takes a jump of over 190 feet to win the men's division. Freestyle jumpers combine strength and beauty as they use the ramp to perform flips and spins. Some of the hardest crashes come from this event. The slalom competition pits the skiers against a course of six buoys which they must cut back and forth to round. Once a maximum boat speed is reached the tow line is shortened to make it more difficult. High speed crashes abound as skiers push performances to the limit.
The combination of hard falls and the desire to maximize skiing potential made the chiropractic treatment area a frequent stop for skiers in Orlando. The team was ready to administer everything from chiropractic adjustments to stretching, massage, taping, and other PT modalities.
As the weekend progressed, news of the favorable chiropractic treatment results spread fast; skiers lined up in increasing numbers for treatments both before and after their competition. With each new tour stop the chiropractic care area is sure to become more popular. In the attempt to standardize care as much as possible, Dr. Weyman has chosen doctors from a network of licensed CCSP practitioners. He supervises the treatments, which helps put the skiers at ease while insuring continuity. Setting up a guideline for treatment protocol on the tour is a high priority for Dr. Weyman.
Prior to 1991 there was minimal availability of established care on the tour. But as skiers seek to reduce injuries and maximize performances, the demand for organized care has heightened. In past years a strained shoulder or twisted ankle was something that wasn't properly treated until the athlete returned home; braces, ice, and self-applied tape were the skiers only aids. Today, these inevitable injuries are taken care of immediately. In addition to the care of injuries, the skiers feel that chiropractic adjustments benefit their performance.
The involvement of chiropractic with the fast growing sport of water skiing is encouraging news for both DCs and athletes. Coverage for both will be seen this summer on ESPN. It's a win-win situation all the way around.
CCSP doctors interested in working these weekend events should contact: Dr. Terry Weyman, 3180 Willow Lane, Suite 212, West Lake Village, CA 91361 or contact the ACA Sports Council Network.
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