SHORELINES

Dr. Kerri Vanderbom , 39, BIRMINGHAM, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, UAB e best part: Water skiing is fun and it's freeing. You get to go fast. ree-event skiing is fun, too, because there are so many different challenges – the speed, going off a ramp or trying for more and better tricks. It's the perfect sport. Early days: I grew up in Gridley, California – northern California – and there wasn't much for individuals with disabilities in our area, but when I was 11 I met the godfather of our sport, Royce Andes, who lived about 10 minutes from my town. Aer a summer of skiing, he signed me up for the national competition. en I understood the direction we were going. Water worlds: I loved water whether it was swimming or when my sister taught me to surf. Royce attracted some of the legends of the sport and they'd coach me, too. It really does become like a family. Seriously family: I met my husband, Derek, when the Disabled Worlds were in Belgium, then again when he competed in the Australian Disabled National competition while I was studying at the University of Queensland. We started dating probably about six weeks before I was actually leaving. He competes for the Australian team and won first overall in the World event. Australia vs. U.S.: Derek and I train together and ski recreationally. I'm so competitive that he won't play board games with me but, somehow, it's not like that with skiing. We want the other to ski well. Seeing the world: I've participated twice in the Worlds in the U.S. and twice in Australia. When we went to England we trained in Ireland, and for Belgium we trained in Scotland, so we really do move around. e future: Competing internationally is up in the air. We really enjoy it but can participate in local tournaments instead. We can enter able-bodied events, too, and know we'll do that. And I also play wheelchair basketball for the Lakeshore Storm in Birmingham. 21 www.apcshorelines.com

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