July 2003 Table of Contents

On the Alaskan Road

A team of three explorers searched Alaska's great outdoors—and found more than they bargained for!

Dream Machines

Hot rods are not just for able-bodied youngsters anymore. Nowadays, all you need is the right vehicle, a little know-how (or someone who knows how), and—of course—some moolah.

Thumbs Up

Rugby's year-ending classic featured the nation's top teams trying to upend the four-time defending champions.

Full Speed Ahead

A paralyzing disease doesn't keep this Indy 500 winner's daughter from reaching for the stars.

In My Opinion:

Readers want to know: Why all the fishin' 'n' huntin'? Editor Cliff Crase explains the increase in S'NS's coverage of outdoor sports involving floppin' fish and wild game.

Fishing:

Big fish led to big prizes at the Citgo BASS Federation Championship and the Texas Roundup—the first stop on this year's PVA National Bass Tour, A BASS Sanctioned Event. In the July issue, Rusty Lathrop tells who won (and how they did it) at both events.

Racing:

From Boston, to Grand Rapids, to Spokane—wheelchair racers were out in force. Christina Ripp was the first American in three years to take a top spot at the Boston Marathon, Saul Mendoza edged out Ernst Van Dyk at the River Bank Run, and Cheri Blauwet was upset (literally) in the Bloomsday. Read more about all three races in this month's issue.

Scorecard:

Attention, women! Join the All-Women's National Wheelchair Softball team! Contact www.orgsites.com/co/softball. And while you're online, check out the U.S. Sledge Hockey Association's new Web site at www.ussha.org. Read about these topics as well as the North American 9-ball Team qualifiers for the 2003 World Wheelchair Games, the events at this year's East Texas Wheelchair Games, and efforts to select a crew for the Challenged America Race Team's entry in the 2003 Transpac (L.A. to Honolulu).

Tennis:

Attention, tennis coaches, teachers, and enthusiasts! A Professional Development Weekend has been scheduled by the Professional Tennis Registry for September 26–27. To learn more, e-mail PTR Headquarters at ptr@ptrtennis.org. In the July issue, you'll also find out who thrilled the hometown crowd by winning the Hendrickson Southcoast Classic (San Diego), who was recently named director of program development for USA Tennis Wheelchair High Performance, and what tennis skills participants age 5 to 75 learned at BlazeSports Day in Austin, Tex.

Juniors:

You've never seen basketball like this! "Kiss My Wheels" is a 56-minute rental video that follows the Zia Hot Shots, a nationally ranked junior wheelchair b-ball team through a season of training and competition. In this month's issue, you'll also read about a Wisconsin summer recreation program for kids with disabilities and able-bodied youngsters.

Fitness:

Flexibility should be a major component of everyone's exercise program—especially if you have SCI. This month, kinesiotherapist and San Diego State University Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities director John E. Downing tells readers how to keep muscles flexible and mobile.

Handcycling:

From elite athletes to new riders, handcyclists learned, raced, and rode the Colorado Rockies. The first annual Adaptive Adventures High Altitude Training Camp and the Wells Fargo Rocky Mountain Omnium (both in Breckenridge), a circuit race in Golden, and Denver's City Park Criterium all contributed to handcycling's reputation as one of the fastest growing sports for wheelchair athletes.

Performance:

Those of us manual-chair users with blown-out shoulders and torn tendons are prime candidates for power-assisted chairs�maybe. Read what Marty Ball says about the pros and cons of these hot new devices.

Playbook:

In this issue, you'll read about a recent top-roping (a form of rock climbing) adventure, the presentation of 13 custom-fitted wheelchairs to a group of kids age 8-18 who participate in the San Diego Hammer junior wheelchair-sports league, career opportunities in gunsmithing, hand controls made for Cessna aircraft, an all-terrain 4WD chair that can reportedly navigate sandy beaches, upcoming Florida water-ski clinics, and a learn-to-sail program seeking participants.

Timeout

Imagine this—a swimming contest in which spinal-cord-injured participants only compete against swimmers with the same disability. S'NS Editorial Consultant Nancy Crase suggests, it could happen—just imagine!

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