Skier Recognition Dan Reed

Skier Recognition Dan Reed
Many of you may not know that Dan Reed spent most of his early life on his
feet, waterskiing, playing baseball, football, riding dirt bikes, and even playing in a rock
band.
In his early 20’s, he was badly injured while repairing a warehouse loading
dock and underwent a year of difficult physical therapy until he could walk, then ski,
once again. Twenty years later he broke his leg playing volleyball and the injury
set in motion a formerly benign neurological condition that paralyzed his legs and
left him in a wheelchair, permanently, in 2000.
In 2001, at age 45, Dan was invited to a Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program disabled water ski clinic at Morse Reservoir and was amazed to discover the opportunity to waterski, once again. His first Disabled
Nationals tournament in 2004 began a record that included his receiving the 2007
Royce Andes Award for "A Promising New Nationals Skier". Subsequently, his
selection to four US Disabled Water Ski Teams led him to compete in the bi-annual
World Disabled Waterski Championships, winning Gold with the Team three times, 2009, 2011, and 2015 – he
was hospitalized for 5 months in 2013 with a life-threatening bone infection and
missed the entire season, including the World Championships in Italy.
Dan serves both his national disabled ski organization, USAAWS&WS, as well as the IWSA on their boards
of directors and, until the Indy Skiers ceased operation on a now drained Lake Indy, he was also a Board member in that club.
Last summer Dan was able to finally score his first full tournament pass on the outer slalom course
and, along with friend and fellow IWSA member Jerry Hodges, is helping mentor and coach talented Toby Days toward the same goal, hopefully to his first Nationals, joining Dan at his 11th.
Not one to surrender to adversity, Dan looks forward to performing once again on stage with
one of his best friends of 35 years and fellow Strum Brother, Bob Moore, as soon as Covid-19 blows town.
​Dan is grateful and sincerely thanks his many IWSA friends and Adaptive Team members for all of their support over the years, then and now!

John Kniesly