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 Fueled by rocking tunes, thousands congregated as returning athletes, first-time competitors, sponsors, spectators and volunteers bonded with excitement and anticipation as they gathered in Orlando, Fla., July 19-21, for the 2007 O&P Extremity Games, eX2.
eX2 included nine judged competitions, with novice and advanced divisions, in skateboarding, wakeboarding, BMX biking, mountain biking, surfing, Moto-X, kayaking and rock climbing for over $45,000 in cash and other prizes.
The number of competitors doubled from last year’s inaugural games, and they came from as far away as South America and Europe.
“The huge success and growing international interest confirms our vision - individuals living with limb loss or limb difference want an extreme sports venue in which they can compete against their peers,” said Eric Robinson, president of College Park Industries. “The athletes’ talent and abilities were awesome and blew us away.”
Winners were announced Saturday evening at an Award Ceremony & Dinner.
Highlights and a champion list can be viewed at www.extremitygames.com.
First, second and third place winners and their events are:
BMX Biking Advanced
Anthony Zukowski (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Brandon Spears (Orlando, Fla.)
Nick Foley (Ellicott, Md.)
Kayaking Recreational
Steve Shawaryn (San Diego, Calif.)
Randall Perry (Saginaw, Mich.)
Leia Listou (Washington, D.C.)
Kayaking Advanced
Mario Calbaka (Bakersfield, Calif.)
Joel Berman (Wilmette, Ill.)
Steve Karczewski (High Bridge, N.J.)
Moto-X Light
Brandon Spears (Orlando, Fla.)
Chris Dunn (Elkhart, Ind.)
Shane Tacker (Bono, Ark.)
Moto-X Premier
Chris Ridgeway (Apple Valley, Calif.)
Jim Wazny (Merrill, Mich.)
Benoit Pauwels (Gouy-lez-pietons, Hainaut, Belgium)
Mountain Biking Recreational
Jamie Stanton (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Todd VerWyes (Lowell, Mich.)
Justin Lynn (Houston)
Mountain Biking Advanced
Anthony Zukowski (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Danny Stevens (Beaverton, Ore.)
Matt McCluskey (Plymouth, Mich.)
Rock Climbing Recreational Men
Steve Karczewski (High Bridge, N.J.)
Randall Perry (Saginaw, Mich.)
Jim Wazny (Merrill, Mich.)
Rock Climbing Recreational Women
Christine O’Connor (Farmington, Mo.)
Kelly Allen (Kingsford, Mich.)
Rock Climbing - Advanced Bouldering
Craig DeMartino (Loveland, Colo.)
Ronnie Dickson (Winter Haven, Fla.)
Jarem Frye (Amity, Ore.)
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Rock Climbing - Advanced Top Rope Men
Craig DeMartino (Loveland, Colo.)
Pete Davis (Golden, Colo.)
Jerod Minch (Henryville, Penn.)
Rock Climbing - Advanced Top Rope Women
Loi Ho (Naples, Fla.)
Cara Fortunato (Silver Springs, MD/Bonita Springs, Fla.)
Kimberly Olson (Fresno, Calif.)
Sit Ski
Matt Schallmoser (Fraser Park, Colo.)
Chet Kuskowski (Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Matt Feeney (Fraser Park, Colo.)
Skateboarding
Evan Strong (Capitola, Calif.)
Oscar Loreto (Downey, Calif.)
Chris Gentry (Reamstown, Penn.)
Surfing
Alcino Jose “Pirata” Silva Neto (Guaruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Sean Whittaker (Orlando, Fla.)
Derek Thomas (Ocala, Fla.)
Wakeboard Recreational
Ben Quinn (Bellingham, Wash.)
Danny Stevens (Beaverton, Ore.)
Jim Lagerstrom (Dearborn, Mich.)
Wakeboarding Advanced Men
Sean Reyngoudt (Summerland Key, Fla.)
Billy Tonis (Livermore, Calif.)
Logan Aldridge (Raleigh, N.C.)
Wakeboarding Advanced Women
Bibian Mentel (The Netherlands)
Jennifer Berg (Detroit Lakes, Minn.)
Amy Purdy (Gunnison, Colo.)
Jeff Winfield Green Award Winner
Jim Wazny (Merrill, Mich.) |
Photos courtesy of Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc.
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 The 8th Annual Endeavor Games saw record-breaking numbers in many areas this year. Approximately 380 sport participants from 29 states and Mexico competed June 8-June 10 at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond. Participants included 20 Wounded Warriors injured in the war on global terrorism, along with six additional service members who weren’t injured on duty.
Events included archery, 3-on-3 basketball, boccia, powerlifting, shooting, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and track & field. In partnership with the U.S. Paralympics, sport clinics were offered in archery, boccia, powerlifting, shooting and track & field. National team coaches, athletes and Paralympians were brought in to conduct the clinics, allowing participants to learn from the best.
“Partnering with the U.S. Paralympics is beneficial on many levels,” said Shelly Ramsey, Endeavor Games coordinator. “It allows us to bring in the top coaches in each sport, as well as offering these coaches an opportunity to see the new, young talent that could be future Paralympians.”
This year several world records were set, along with many personal records. Scott Winkler and Dennis Ogbe both set world marks in the shotput and discus respectively, by throwing 10.23 meters and 51.13 meters. Joe Bailey, a member of the national Paralympic archery team, also set a world record in archery.
 Participants were entertained by Opening Ceremony keynote speaker Karin Korb, two-time Paralympian in tennis, and tribal Native American dancers that brought the native Oklahoma culture to the Endeavor Games to celebrate the Oklahoma Centennial. On Saturday morning, participants enjoyed the parachuting demonstration done by Dana Bowman, former member of The Golden Knights. Bowman lost both of his legs during a parachuting demonstration in 1994.
Along with competition, this was the second year for Endeavor Games athletes to participate in the Disabled Sports USA Youth Sports Mentoring Program. Four of the Wounded Warriors competing in the Games were paired with young athlete mentees. Throughout the weekend, the pairs developed relationships based on a common interest in sport.
“This year was a great success and we look forward to expanding on great programs like mentoring,” said Ramsey. “We want to serve our athletes on many levels, and mentoring is a great way to build those relationships for the betterment of sport.”
The 9th Annual Endeavor Games will be held June 5-8, 2008, at the University of Central Oklahoma. For more information participants can check out www.ucok.edu and click on Endeavor Games, or contact (405) 974-3151.
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 The 2nd annual No Barriers Festival, held in Squaw Valley, Calif., June 28 – July 2, welcomed hundreds of participants, scientists, technologists, exhibitors, sponsors and volunteers from nearly every state in America and a dozen other countries to take part in the five-day event.
The Festival welcomed many industry leaders showcasing the latest adaptive sports equipment technology as well as cutting edge techniques. Participants took part in lectures, symposiums, an equipment fair, as well as a variety of interactive clinics from scuba, rock climbing, kayaking, mobility clinics, hiking, cycling and a ropes course to more artistic endeavors such as painting, sculpture and a drum circle.
As part of the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, more than 20 Wounded Warriors were able to participate, along with their family and staff members. Patients came from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Naval Medical Center San Diego, and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System.
For more information visit www.nobarriersusa.org.
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