Liquid Access Information

The Hesters have been avid water skiers for many years, but a chance meeting with a disabled woman in 1996 changed what had been a hobby into a heartfelt business venture. The result was LiquidAccess, a more than 20-year-old company that designs and manufactures water ski equipment for disabled individuals who otherwise would not be able to participate in the water sports that so many others enjoy and take for granted. Those involved in water sports for the disabled say the Hesters work has led to significantly more access across the world. I would estimate that the number of disabled people doing water sports has grown tenfold since LiquidAccess started, said Ann OBrine-Satterfield, a two-time world champion and adaptive water skier based in Winter Haven. And a lot of that has to do with them. Will Speed, a disabled competitive wake boarder in Charlotte, N.C., said that LiquidAccess is at the forefront of developing water sports technology for the disabled. They just continue to develop better and better equipment, said Speed, who became active in adaptive water sports after a motorcycle accident paralyzed him from below the rib cage. Getting the wake board equipment from LiquidAccess stepped up my game and enabled me to go to the able-bodied side of competitions, Speed said. In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Water Skiers with Disabilities a division of USA Water Ski FLORIDA TODAY decided to take a closer look at this unique Melbourne, Florida company and talk to some of the people who have been helped by Liquid Access products. LiquidAccess is believed to be the only athletic company in the world that provides quadriplegics, amputees, and other seriously disabled people with a one-stop-shop for all the adaptive water sports equipment necessary for them to ski. Designing skis for the disabled is equal parts art and science, and it requires both insight into the needs of the disabled community and innovative engineering to assist the disabled in overcoming their physical limitations. That means ...