January 2006 Table of Contents

French Connection

At this year's U.S. Open, some different faces�including a Parisian�shined in the limelight and toppled the big dogs, making a name for themselves and looking toward the future.

P.E.: Smart Sports Ed

Many of us can remember those dreaded early-morning P.E. classes. Times have changed, however, and students with disabilities now have someone on their side.

Arctic Adventure

Kayaking Norway may not seem like a dream vacation destination for wheelchair users, but some willing adventurers gave it a shot and found the area's beauty and accessibility.

Baseball's Best Kept Secret

Spring training happens in only two places—Florida and Arizona. Arizona's Cactus League features fun-filled accessible parks.

In My Opinion

Editor Cliff Crase offers a tribute to the late Skip Wilkins, an exceptional athlete, inspiring motivational speaker, and great friend.

Fishing

Big fish bring big prizes at the fourth and final Regional New England PVA Bass Trail Tournament of the 2005 season. There's also a report on a charity fishing tournament that attracted racing fans and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers and celebrities.

Hunting

Within two hours after setting out on the hunt, Ken Weas got his gator—more than 450 pounds of fighting reptile. Read about his adventure as well as Virgil Qualls' experiences on a Texas whitetail-deer hunt.

Racing

Articles highlight the ING New York City Marathon and its 2005 winners—Ernst Van Dyk (men) and Edith Hunkeler (women)—as well as events at the 30th Marine Corps Marathon, held in Washington, D.C.

Scorecard

The 2005 "Power Blast" Power Soccer Tournament did just that, blasting through Mesa, Ariz., drawing some 50 athletes from Canada, Caifornia, Minnesota, and Arizona. Catch the action in this issue. You'll also find the current National Wheelchair Basketball Association Tournament Selection Committee team rankings.

Shooting

Suntans and shotguns were in order at the last two 2005 events on the PVA National Trap Circuit, held in Las Vegas, Nev., and Tucson, Ariz.

Health & Fitness

Marcie Davis and Delia Cooper share some insights and practical applications for stretching and flexibility exercises—the no-sweat way to maximize your fitness program.

Players

The first driver in a wheelchair in a local weekly series to win a heat race, Mike Young Jr. wants to be the fastest paraplegic driver in NASCAR. Read his story in this issue. And get up close and personal with Frank Brasile, who recently joined the legends of the sports world as he was inducted into an All-Sports Hall of Fame for his 33 years of dedication to wheelchair basketball.

Playbook

Bits and blurbs about wheelchair sports and recreation: National Wheelchair Basketball Association Day (hosted by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.); Shake-A-Leg's Whole Life Therapy for Adults program, gearing up for summer sessions; awarding of the first Albert Youakim Community Service Award to Youakim for his 60 years of volunteer service in wheelchair sports; a joint (sled and able-bodied) hockey event in Russia; the three-day Quad Rugby Festival, held in Colorado; a fund-raising effort to support Paralympic hopefuls; and the U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Military Summit, also in Colorado.

Timeout

Wheelchair-tennis great and frequent SNS contributor Randy Snow says if he had it to do over again, he would like to think he'd take advantage of the opportunity to "wear the advocacy suit of clothes" and possibly influence the thinking of thousands when it comes to disability. After all, what would it hurt if he did?

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