Athlete Talks & Interviews

Judy Ashton (Leadership Luncheon 2007)

Abbie Dinkel (Leadership Luncheon 2007)

Fan Lucy Pope (Leadership Luncheon 2007)

Nancy Connelly (Interview 2001)

Ben Bosbach (Interview 2001)

Paul Remy (Interview 2001)

Judy Ashton

Judy Ashton has been training and adventuring with AccesSport for close to five years. She has become a great windsurfer, paddler, tennis player and runner. Judy has rebound again and again in dealing with Eastern Equine Encephalitis. In a special course on Heartbreak Hill, Judy was able to run four miles under one hour during the 2007 Boston Marathon™. Her generous colleagues at the law firm of Davis, Malm & D'Agostine, P.C. supported her run and also enter a Team in the Mayor's Cup Regatta each year. With thanks to all her generous friends, Judy was able to raise over $8,000 this year to support AccesSport.

"After I contracted West Nile Encephalitis, I wasn't even sure I would ever walk unaided. But my friends at AccesSport had a different vision for me. With my Instructors' constant support, continued cheering from my fellow athletes and a lot of hard work all around, I am not only running...but I'm succeeding in challenging sports I never even dreamed of participating in like windsurfing, snowboarding, playing basketball and tennis, and outrigger canoeing on the Pacific Ocean waves. Post-encephalitis recovery is not linear in any way. I often have really hard relapses that I struggle just to live through. Recently I was in bed for almost six weeks with one such relapse. Nonetheless, I always know that my friends at AccesSport—Instructors, athletes and volunteers alike—are always rooting for me to get back to the joy of engaging in sports and the camaraderie I feel spending time with my dear friends at AccesSport." —Judy Ashton




Abbie Dinkel

Abbie Dinkel has been a faithful member of our Conditioning & Soccer program for close to three years and has been a member of Acton Unified Soccer team for over ten. This past year, in particular, Abbie has learned four skill moves—scissors, pull back, rollover, and Maradonna. The true test of her considerable talent came in a game this September in which she used three of those moves against an AccesSport Instructor with great success.

"I feel happy when I do soccer with my friends. I like shocking Ross, Ginger and Rich (AccesSportAmerica Instructors) by doing the tricks they teach me. I am proud of myself for getting this award." —Abbie Dinkel




Fan Lucy Pope

Fan Lucy Pope is several years out from a stroke and makes progress in every session. She trains year round with AccesSport and windsurfs regularly on our various tandem boards. On several occasions, Fan windsurfed independently on her own board. This summer, she windsurfed using her own sail on a three-foot wide tandem board with an Instructor. They sailed for close to two hours without falling once. The duo jibed close to twenty times and made the downwind run from Community Boating by the Longfellow Bridge to our home dock at the Pier at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston.

"When I first came to AccesSport, I was asked about my goals. I told the Instructors that my goal was to have fun again. We certainly accomplished that and a lot more. Now, I want to reclaim summer all year long." —Fan Lucy Pope




ASA Interview with Nancy Connelly

ASA: How did you hear about ASA?
Connelly: From Ross at camp Jabberworky. During the first year he did the windsurfing.


ASA: What made you decide to give it a try?
Connelly: After watching my friends windsurf. I thought I would give it a try.


ASA: What water sports have you done with ASA?
Connelly: Windsurfing and sea kayaking.


ASA: What happened on your first day on the water?
Connelly: Ross put a helmet on me. Because it was very windy. And we windsurfed, we flew across the water like a jet. That was when I got hooked on windsurfing.


ASA: Who was your instructor? Who else was there on your first day?
Connelly: Ross, Kiplee and Bill


ASA: How many times have you been out with ASA? What happened on your most recent outing?
Connelly: I've been out w/ ASA every time I could go. I went for two weeks during the month of July. On my recent outing, Ross and I took Caroline from England(a counselor from camp) for her first lesson on windsurfing. We stayed out on the water for a good 30 mins.


ASA: Tell me a little about your best outing? Anything funny ever happen on the water?
Connelly: Ross and Will (a camp counselor) were windsurfing with me. And being the " mature" men they were, they chose to play pirates and I was the fair maiden. They were fighting over me and they got so wrapped up in their fighting that I just sailed away to shore all by myself. To everyone's surprise they were like, HUH, where is Nancy?


ASA: What equipment have you used?
Connelly: I've used both types of windsurfers. The one with the chair and the standing frame.


ASA: What have you accomplished on the water? How it make you feel?
Connelly: I accomplished better range of motion and stamina. I feel better after a ride... Makes me forget about all my problems.


ASA: Please tell me anything else you think we should be telling others about ASA...
Connelly: I would like to inform everyone that if you haven't tried or thought about giving ASA a try, you are missing out on fun and good people that care about making you feel better about yourself.




ASA Interview with Ben
ASA: How did you hear about ASA?

Tarquinio Team: We first heard of ASA (then called Winsurf) through Ross at SACC.


ASA: What made you decide to give it a try?
Tarquinio Team: We were apprehensive at first since we had not had any windsurfing experience ourselves. Ross convinced us that the catamaran surfer was stable and safe for Ben, who was 4 years old at the time.


ASA: What water sports have you done with ASA?
Tarquinio Team: Windsurf, kayak, tubing, outrigger canoeing, indoor soccer and functional fitness.


ASA: What happened on your first day on the water?
Tarquinio Team: The first day on the water was the first time for Ben and myself on a windsurfer. The Charles River had a light breeze, bright sun, and Ross' hyperkinetic enthusiasm. We got a brief on-land intro and then off we went. Ben sat on the Catsurfer while I sailed. We tried to have him stand, but he wasn't ready quite yet. After a couple of jibes we headed back in with a tow from Ross and we completed our first successful sail on the water.


ASA: Who was your instructor? Who else was there on your first day?
Tarquinio Team: Ross was the instructor, with Greg Kahler, who was also there as an instructor, sailing near us while Ross captained the boat.


ASA: How many times have you been out with ASA?
Tarquinio Team: Ben goes out on the water 6-8 times each summer. He feels very much a part of the family atmosphere of the program, with all the instructors being like his big sisters and brothers.


ASA: Tell me a little about your best outing?
Tarquinio Team: The best outing probably was the summer of 2001 when Ben stood up on a board by himself with an instructor. It was the first time he stayed up for the majority of the ride. He looked very pleased with himself holding onto the boom, feeling the wind in the sail pushing him across the pond at Mass Hospital School.


ASA: What equipment have you used?
Tarquinio Team: Starboard, Catsurfer, Waterspider, kayaks, outrigger canoes.


ASA: What have you accomplished on the water? How does it make you feel?
Tarquinio Team: Ben has accomplished quite a few things by being involved in ASA. His balance has improved to the point where we see a carry over in his soccer and baseball skills. An increase in his self confidence and willingness to try new activites has been noticed as well and his ability to interact with other students in the program.


ASA: Please tell me anything else you think we should be telling others about ASA...
Tarquinio Team: We think people who have a son or daughter, brother, sister or spouse with a disability can be apprehensive about putting their loved one out on the water, on a board with a sail... And rightly so. The best thing we can say is to come out and watch. Watch the interactions with the students and instructors. Watch them laugh, watch them have fun, watch them overcome fears and gain skills and confidence. Then give it a try, and watch the wind change everything.




ASA Interview with Paul Remy

ASA: How did you hear about ASA?
Remy: Through Camp Jabberwocky.


ASA: What made you decide to give it a try?
Remy: It seemed to be fun, and I am always eager trying new things.


ASA: What water sports have you done with ASA?
Remy: Windsurfing, kayaking, and tubing.


ASA: What happened on your first day on the water?
Remy: I windsurfed while holding a stander... it was so much fun riding the surf.


ASA: Who was your instructor? Who else was there on your first day?
Remy: Ross. He stood behind me and was my co-pilot making sure I would not crash into other surfers or boats. Friends from Jabberwocky also fully enjoyed the sport.


ASA: How many times have you been out with ASA? What happened on your most recent outing?
Remy: Several times a year since 1997. I went windsurfing and kayaking.


ASA: Tell me a little about your best outing? Anything funny ever happen on the water?
Remy: My best outing was last summer while windsurfing with Ross and Bill. We were out for nearly an hour and the winds that filled the sails were nearly perfect. I felt liberated being propelled where I wanted to go. I did most of the steering but need help to jibe. It was also a great feeling being out of my wheelchair doing something that many would consider to be impossible for a person with a disability to accomplish.


ASA: What equipment have you used?
Remy: Windsurfer with a stander or plastic beach chair.


ASA: What have you accomplished on the water? How does it make you feel?
Remy: More freedom knowing I can do and experience more enjoyment despite my disabilities. More importantly, it teaches me how to use my abilities to their max.


ASA: Please tell me anything else you think we should be telling others about ASA...
Remy: Besides having fun, we are also teaching you how to adapt to achieve other accomplishments in life that you may have thought were impossible.