Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Disabled Sports USA Director Kirk Bauer

Aired December 13, 2003 - 12:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Some veterans of the war in Iraq are rebuilding their lives at home with the added challenge of a permanent war wound. An event this week in Breckenridge, Colorado took some vets with disabilities to the ski slopes. Kirk Bauer is with Disabled Sports USA, an organization sponsoring the event. He lost his leg in Vietnam.
KIRK BAUER, DIRECTOR, DISABLE SPORTS USA: Well, Disabled Sports USA was begun by group of disabled Vietnam vets to help the war injured of that era to get active again because there was nothing there for them.

We have now evolved into an organization nationwide. What's really great about this week here at the Hartford Ski Spectacular, in Breckenridge, Colorado, is that we're able to invite, as our guests, a group of fine young soldiers who have served our country, who fought in a war and become disabled as a result of their war in Iraq.

We want to show them this week, at the Ski Spectacular, what they can look forward to in life, That is there still home, that there is an active life at the end of this road. We know they've been through a very, very tough year, probably the toughest of their lives. We will show them there's a lot of possibilities for them in their lives still.

WHITFIELD: We're talking about at least seven Americans who served in Iraq, who had various amputations, let alone trying to deal with the newness of a prosthetic, and then you hand them a ski of sorts, and tell them to take on the mountain. How eager were they to take on that new challenge?

BAUER: It's been a tough year. They've been in the hospital. They've been through surgeries. They have had to learn to get around in a wheelchair or with a new artificial leg. They're dealing with an awful lot.

One of the great things about skiing is, once we strap on this equipment, they can learn it very, very quickly. It's easy. It's lot easier than people think.

Every single one of these soldiers was up skiing and doing turns on the very first day that they tried this sport. And that is one of the beauties about skiing and about getting involved in sports, because it really gives them a confidence booster right away.

WHITFIELD: Did many of these skiers express to you that for a moment they almost forget they were disabled, feeling that they were developing the kind of confidence and ability to take on these mountains?

BAUER: Fredricka, one of them told me, this has been the toughest year of my life. I've had surgeries go bad, it's been really frustrating. He said, I can't tell you what a feeling this week has been for me. I can't even begin to describe it in words because of what it's done for me. Because I have seen other people like me who have disabilities whose are out there doing some incredible things.

That has the purpose of what we're trying to do here, to give a message and to give them a real picture of what their lives could be like.

WHITFIELD: You know first hand because you've been there. So, you can empathize with a number of these new soldiers with these new challenges?

BAUER: Well, Fredricka, 34 years ago in 1969, I lost my leg from a hand grenade during an ambush while serving in Vietnam. When I visited these guys in the hospitals three months ago, I saw myself laying there, young, disabled -- you know a million questions and million frustrations. What's so great, you know, we're going to help them get through this really tough time and get on with life.

WHITFIELD: More than 30 years with Disabled Sports USA. What's next for you, Kirk?

BAUER: We're just going to keep on doing what we do, what we do best. That's, you know, off offer rehabilitation sports for people with disabilities so they can lead an active life. I love doing it. Everybody involved with Disabled Sports USA loves doing it. We will keep on doing what we think we do best.

WHITFIELD: Have a great time. Enjoy the rest of the week there at Breckenridge. What a beautiful background behind you. Good to see you. Kirk Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports USA. Thanks very much.

BAUER: Thank you, Fredricka.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 13, 2003 - 12:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Some veterans of the war in Iraq are rebuilding their lives at home with the added challenge of a permanent war wound. An event this week in Breckenridge, Colorado took some vets with disabilities to the ski slopes. Kirk Bauer is with Disabled Sports USA, an organization sponsoring the event. He lost his leg in Vietnam.
KIRK BAUER, DIRECTOR, DISABLE SPORTS USA: Well, Disabled Sports USA was begun by group of disabled Vietnam vets to help the war injured of that era to get active again because there was nothing there for them.

We have now evolved into an organization nationwide. What's really great about this week here at the Hartford Ski Spectacular, in Breckenridge, Colorado, is that we're able to invite, as our guests, a group of fine young soldiers who have served our country, who fought in a war and become disabled as a result of their war in Iraq.

We want to show them this week, at the Ski Spectacular, what they can look forward to in life, That is there still home, that there is an active life at the end of this road. We know they've been through a very, very tough year, probably the toughest of their lives. We will show them there's a lot of possibilities for them in their lives still.

WHITFIELD: We're talking about at least seven Americans who served in Iraq, who had various amputations, let alone trying to deal with the newness of a prosthetic, and then you hand them a ski of sorts, and tell them to take on the mountain. How eager were they to take on that new challenge?

BAUER: It's been a tough year. They've been in the hospital. They've been through surgeries. They have had to learn to get around in a wheelchair or with a new artificial leg. They're dealing with an awful lot.

One of the great things about skiing is, once we strap on this equipment, they can learn it very, very quickly. It's easy. It's lot easier than people think.

Every single one of these soldiers was up skiing and doing turns on the very first day that they tried this sport. And that is one of the beauties about skiing and about getting involved in sports, because it really gives them a confidence booster right away.

WHITFIELD: Did many of these skiers express to you that for a moment they almost forget they were disabled, feeling that they were developing the kind of confidence and ability to take on these mountains?

BAUER: Fredricka, one of them told me, this has been the toughest year of my life. I've had surgeries go bad, it's been really frustrating. He said, I can't tell you what a feeling this week has been for me. I can't even begin to describe it in words because of what it's done for me. Because I have seen other people like me who have disabilities whose are out there doing some incredible things.

That has the purpose of what we're trying to do here, to give a message and to give them a real picture of what their lives could be like.

WHITFIELD: You know first hand because you've been there. So, you can empathize with a number of these new soldiers with these new challenges?

BAUER: Well, Fredricka, 34 years ago in 1969, I lost my leg from a hand grenade during an ambush while serving in Vietnam. When I visited these guys in the hospitals three months ago, I saw myself laying there, young, disabled -- you know a million questions and million frustrations. What's so great, you know, we're going to help them get through this really tough time and get on with life.

WHITFIELD: More than 30 years with Disabled Sports USA. What's next for you, Kirk?

BAUER: We're just going to keep on doing what we do, what we do best. That's, you know, off offer rehabilitation sports for people with disabilities so they can lead an active life. I love doing it. Everybody involved with Disabled Sports USA loves doing it. We will keep on doing what we think we do best.

WHITFIELD: Have a great time. Enjoy the rest of the week there at Breckenridge. What a beautiful background behind you. Good to see you. Kirk Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports USA. Thanks very much.

BAUER: Thank you, Fredricka.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com