Hand-eye co-ordination, speed, accuracy and nerves of steel are needed for any professional tennis player, but adding a mobility disability and having to wield a racquet while pushing a wheelchair ups the degree of difficulty.
Steve Manley, who has coached wheelchair tennis for 10 years through the BC Wheelchair Sports Association, said the sport requires the same skills as an able-bodied tennis player would need 鈥� hand-eye co-ordination and speed. The added challenges are pushing a chair while holding a racquet in hand at all times and anticipating the next shot.
鈥淚t鈥檚 as vigorous or more than regular tennis . . . like a spin class for your arms,鈥� Manley said. Getting used to wheeling a chair with both hands while keeping the racquet in one hand takes a lot of getting used to, Manley added. The sport also requires strong stomach and core muscles for balance and tilt and reaching for the ball.
The opening ceremonies of the Odlum Brown VanOpen at West Vancouver鈥檚 Hollyburn Country Club on Tuesday evening were to include a demonstration of wheelchair tennis and Rick Hansen was scheduled to take part. The VanOpen is also hosting a wheelchair tennis try-it event on Saturday, organized by BC Wheelchair Sports.聽
In anticipation of the event, tournament chair Carlota Lee called wheelchair tennis players 鈥渟uper athletes.鈥�
鈥淲e want to show able-bodied people what kind of calibre these athletes are,鈥� Lee said.
Because a wheelchair can鈥檛 hop sideways, a wheelchair tennis player has to pivot their chair toward the ball when it comes over the net 鈥� this means they have to really anticipate where the ball is coming, explained Michelle McDonell, program co-ordinator with BC Wheelchair Sports.
鈥淧redicting where the ball鈥檚 going is that much more important,鈥� McDonell said. 鈥淪ome of the best players are more strategic.鈥�
The chairs for wheelchair tennis are very specialized 鈥� they are much lighter and faster than everyday-use chairs, and the wheels are angled outward. Tennis wheelchairs can cost $3,000, but BC Wheelchair Sports will rent them out for $10/month for anyone wanting to try out the sport.
Wheelchair tennis has the same rules as any tennis game with only one exception: the ball can bounce twice before being lobbed back. Also, the athlete needs to be 鈥渙ne with the chair,鈥� McDonell said, which means no feet on the ground and butt firmly planted in the seat 鈥� no rising up.
Otherwise, the same rules apply and, therefore, wheelchair tennis players can compete with able-bodied tennis athletes.
For anyone wanting to try wheelchair tennis, BC Wheelchair Sports will bring some specialized chairs to the VanOpen on Saturday, Aug. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. for a try-it event.
For information about the Odlum Brown VanOpen Tournament, which continues until Aug. 19, go to vanopen.com.
Wheelchair tennis can be played at the North 麻豆传媒映画Tennis Centre. Anyone interested can contact Wayne Elderton at 604-983-6482.
