STARskaters in Houston provide an on-ice skating experience for therapy and recreation for children and young adults with any type of physical or developmental disability. The program is open to anyone five years of age or older who would normally be unable to enjoy an on-ice skating experience due to their disability.
Disaboom: Jim, tell us about yourself, and how STARskaters got started.
“One night I was watching the Bob Costas Show about a program in Buffalo called SABAH, Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped. I kept thinking about it and I realized that just because people have some type of disability, they shouldn’t be precluded from having the same type of enjoyment that skating has brought me. I grew up skating in Wisconsin, and now am a US Hockey Referee in my spare time so the skating idea really appealed to me. In 2006, I changed jobs and my schedule was a bit more flexible, so for the next two years I worked out how I could make it happen. I came up with the acronym STAR which stands for Skating for Therapy and Recreation and created a web site. At first, we were just doing events. One of those events led us to expand to include therapeutic skating lessons with US Figure Skating instructors teaching skaters with a wide range of disabilities every Saturday morning.
“Everybody in every program at STARskaters has some sort of disability. One of our figure skaters was born with no eyes. She’s remarkable. We have a patch program with 14 different levels that you progress through, and she’s already on her third level of patches. You can’t imagine someone who has never had the benefit of sight and yet she is able to get out there on the ice and acquire the balance to do it.”
Disaboom: So, you began with skating. How did Sled Hockey come about?
“I was approached by one of my USA Hockey contacts who told me they’d like to have a sled hockey team in Houston. I said, ‘What’s that?’ I had never even heard of sled hockey at that point. But I began investigating the feasibility, and learning all I could about the sport. One of the challenges with sled hockey is ice time. Unlike wheelchair basketball with courts all over town, or wheelchair soccer with available playing fields, sled hockey is a bit more challenging because of the cost of the sleds, and finding ice time at area rinks. Fortunately in Texas, we have several players who were on the U.S. Paralympic team and have won gold medals, not just recently, but in prior international events. Gold medalists, like James Dunham, Lonnie Hannah, and Taylor Lipsett have participated in “try sled hockey for Free” events that got a lot of interested people out, and that’s how sled hockey started in Houston. More recently one of my fellow referees has generously donated ice time each Saturday at 9:30AM at Ice Skate USA at Memorial City Mall. We have a wide range of people coming out to try it – some come for more skill development and if we have enough of the higher level people we’ll have scrimmages: a little half ice, 3-on-3 competitions. The great thing about sled hockey is how fast you can go on ice – much faster than in a wheelchair, because there is little friction on the ice. It gives a real sensation of freedom, of literally flying. That appeals to so many people.”
Disaboom: What type of disabilities do people have that play sled hockey?
“People who play sled hockey are typically those with lower body issues but anyone who has the use of their upper body is a good candidate to play. One of our players was born with polio. He won several Houston marathons on his three wheel bike. We have Joseph Montemayor, a 42 year-old man who is the first one on the ice every Saturday, he’s a triple amputee. When he was 7 years-old he was run over by a train. He has only one arm but incredible determination and he is out there improving his game every week. I am blown away by his athletic skill. He is one of the fastest guys on the ice. Being one sided, he’s at bit of a disadvantage, but it’s not an issue for him. He is having a prosthesis made specifically for sledding so he can push from both sides. I can’t imagine how fast he’s going to be able go when he can push with both hands, He’s one of the most amazing men I’ve ever met. Every Saturday he’s out there jamming, always with his music going. He loves it.”
Disaboom: Do you do much work with Veterans with Disabilities?
“Yes, that’s our big focus this year. I’m working with the people in San Antonio to replicate the success they’ve had as far as outreach to Veterans organizations, because it’s an extremely good workout for recreation, therapy, completion and provides great social benefits. We will have specific veterans’ events in cooperation with the Houston AEROS, our local American Hockey League Team.”
Disaboom: We know that STARskaters is a nonprofit organization and you function with volunteer help. How can people help you with this amazing program?
“Like all non-profits, we need financial assistance, corporate sponsorships and volunteers. My dream is that every ice skating rink in Houston will one day have sleds and ice time for people with disabilities. It’s hard for people to travel all across Houston to come to our primary sled rink. But sleds cost $700 the way we have to outfit them, so to put sleds at every rink in town would cost about $14,000. Right now, we have one on order that is a high back for a little guy who needs more upper body support. But how do you tell him no? So we just ordered it because I believe that everyone who wants to play should have the equipment they need to participate. One exciting thing about sled hockey is that it’s a sport where players can advance quickly. When you think that Taylor Lipsett went from his first time on a sled to gold medal winner in 4 years, you just know that there are others out there that could do the same. But none of that can happen if the players don’t have what they need on the ice. I would hate it if there was a future gold medalist out there who never got a chance due to lack of equipment or ice time. We need equipment, more donated ice time and with that, more volunteers.”
Disaboom: Has getting an ice program going in Texas been difficult?
“Somewhat, because football and baseball are so popular. But, when it’s 100 degrees, there’s no cooler place to be than on the ice. But, my biggest challenge is time. I own two companies so my days are stretched a little thin. But STARskaters is my love job, and every spare minute is dedicated to raising awareness and opportunities for all our programs. In Houston, sled hockey is still a new sport but everyone who tries it loves it.”
To learn more about STARskaters go to: http://www.starskaters.org
