LAKELAND, Fla. — USA Water Ski helps younger girls be taught a brand new sport with their Get on the Water program. About two dozen Polk County girls are being uncovered to water skiing.
“It’s been really fun and exhilarating. Even though it’s my first time, it has gotten better for me over these past couple of weeks, because I wasn’t the best,” mentioned Taraji Bell.
Though none of them have completed this sport earlier than, they make it look straightforward. “You have to keep steady, and you have to have balance, a lot of balance,” mentioned Lauren-Dior Young.
USA Water Ski, and Girls Inc. have teamed up to educate these younger women how to master the sport. Many of them would by no means have a chance to strive it, in any other case.
“It means a lot to me because not a lot of people get to do this and the fact that I get to do it makes me happy,” mentioned Jayla Azcona.
“We realize that there are a lot of barriers to our sport. You have to have boats, and skis and fuel and all these and a lot of people aren’t able to access all of those,” mentioned Frances Buchanan with USA Water Ski & Wake Sports.
The Get on the Water program contains 4 clinics being held on Lake Bonny in Lakeland and Lake Silver in Winter Haven.
“They are a faster learner group than others we’ve had. I applaud that. That’s really a good sign,” mentioned USA Water Ski teacher, H. Fry.
The objective is by the finish of the program, the girls is not going to solely be taught a brand new sport, however achieve confidence and assist from the native ski group.
“A few weeks ago, a lot of them had never even been in the water and a lot of them didn’t even know how to swim. So, to be able to see them progress over these last few weeks and get out on the water has been something really cool to watch,” Buchanan mentioned.
