Adaptive recreation program makes splash during watersports week

Sitting on a sit water ski in Echo Lake, Erik Barnes yells “Hit it!”  

Quickly he’s carving through the wake behind the boat, at one point hitting a wave and jumping three feet before tumbling into the water. 

It was 90 degrees on Tuesday afternoon at Echo Lake, the water was a warm 74. Children, parents, caregivers and participants of DREAM Adaptive Recreation lined the shores of the lake, in lifejackets and on various sorts of watercraft, with beaming smiles and cheers of encouragement. 

It was a perfect day for boating, which is exactly what DREAM Adaptative Recreation participants took to the lake to do.  

DREAM Adaptative Recreation, a nonprofit that provides outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities in the Flathead Valley, every summer hosts a water sports week at Echo Lake. Participants can paddle board, water ski, tube, swim, and kayak, regardless of ability. 

"We’re really focused on providing a safe environment for people to feel confident to push their limits,” said Julie Tickle, DREAM’s executive director. “It’s empowering, going into the unknown and seeing what is possible for them.” 

Tuesday was one of four days — the last specifically dedicated to veterans — of water sports activities. Around 30 participants, and over 20 family members, spent the day swimming, boating and paddling alongside staff and volunteers.  

The boat, driven by a team of DREAM employees and volunteers, played country music as it turned within Echo Lake’s waters. 

Barnes, 39, can be found participating with DREAM for summer and winter sports. From biking to skiing to waterskiing, Barnes spoke highly of adaptive recreation. For the Whitefish resident spending active time outdoors is important in his lifestyle. 

“[Being out there,] it makes me feel like I don’t have a disability,” Barnes said, who broke his back and is now paralyzed. 

Volunteering that day, Tom Mettler stood at the back of the boat, pumping his arm in the air as Barnes carved through the water. Mettler’s daughter has participated with DREAM for three years. 

“It feeds you, big time,” Mettler said of volunteering. “To see them excel is just a blessing.” 

DREAM partners with Backcountry Xperiences, a newly launched outdoor adventure entity, amplifying the recreation group’s motorized watersports program.  

The organization provides experiences in the outdoors for people in Northwest Montana from backpacking trips to marine experiences.  

“We want to ensure that the experiences that we provide also include the adaptive community,” said Sean Lujan, the co-founder of Backcountry Xperiences.  

Backcountry Xperiences provides over $40,000 of in-kind goods and services, including boat donations, coaches, safety jet skis for all the motorized sports days on Echo and Whitefish lakes.  

"At the end of the day, and at the end of this week that [happened], you’re just so filled of, gosh, just joy. It’s a great time working with everyone involved,” said Lujan.  

Also out in the water, Katie Newman, 31, took to the lake on a sit water ski riding within the wake of the boat. The Kalispell resident has been participating with DREAM for a year.  

Newman, who was paralyzed after a neck injury two years ago, used two outriggers on the sides of the sit water ski for stability. With two jet skis following her, Newman could experience the water sport in a safe, encouraging environment. 

“My favorite part is getting back out and doing things I did before my accident,” Newman said. “[Being on the lake] brings back memories from when I was little.” 

In the past, DREAM had to rent boats and equipment for water sports days, which is not only a financial burden but also makes things difficult if something were to break or function incorrectly.  

“If a boat goes down, we will fix it right there or replace it so there is as little downtime as possible,” Lujan said. 

Backcountry Xperiences also works with DREAM’s biking and paddle sports programs to expand barrier-free experiences on the water to the trails.  

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459. 

* This section was updated to clarify the partnership between the groups. 

    Erik Barnes carves across a boat's wake on an adaptive water ski during DREAM Adaptive Recreation's Echo Lake Watersports Days on Tuesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    From left, Sean Lujan, co-founder of Backcountry Xperiences; Julie Tickle, executive director of DREAM Adaptive Recreation; and Trevor HIldebrand, staff at DREAM Adaptive, during DREAM Adaptive Recreation's Echo Lake Watersports Days on Tuesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Katie Newman rides an adaptive water ski during DREAM Adaptive Recreation's Echo Lake Watersports Days on Tuesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    DREAM Adaptive Recreation staff and volunteers head out onto Echo Lake with participants during their Echo Lake Watersports Days on Tuesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Erik Barnes carves across a boat's wake on an adaptive water ski during DREAM Adaptive Recreation's Echo Lake Watersports Days on Tuesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Volunteers and staff communicate to get Erik Barnes back on his adaptive water ski for another ride around Echo Lake during DREAM Adaptive Recreation's Echo Lake Watersports Days on Tuesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Volunteer Tom Mettler communicates with staff and volunteers to get Erik Barnes back on his adaptive water ski for another ride around Echo Lake during DREAM Adaptive Recreation's Echo Lake Watersports Days on Tuesday, July 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider