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WARREN FRANK
PWC Offshore Challenged Racer 2009 National Champion
By Shawn Alladio
Warren Frank began training diligently a month prior to the LB2CAT National PWC Offshore Race. He along with fellow Challenged racer, Ryan Levinson decided they would try the offshore PWC race and see what it held for them. Both racers started out on Sea Doo RXT watercraft, a great choice for offshore race boats. I was privileged to have Ryan contact me on email asking, for some direction, and I didn't know it at that time but I was soon to become their coach. I'm so glad I did.
Warren is a below the knee amputee and accomplished athlete participating in CAF (Challenged Athletes Foundation) select events, such as swims, runs and cycling. He owned his own PWC so it was a natural progression for him to move from riding to racing.
Training was intensive. Testing of gear and riding style merged as Warren began to get into a zone of posture, pace and security underway. Once his confidence passed any reservations he had, he just simply flew away at speed. A week out of the race, Warren purchased a Kawasaki 260X, the premiere offshore racing boat. This boat has proven itself as a winner in prior offshore races when the Channel between the mainland and the island of Catalina roughened. I estimate the Ultra's hull design set a tempo that is difficult to surpass for any racer. It also holds increased horsepower and that takes body fatigue consideration.
Something that is common for Warren as he's had to make adjustments to body trim style on other disciplines is to discover advantages, not disadvantages. Expanding on this a PWC has more of a varied strength application, just like it's namesake it is 'personal'. It takes technical handling abilities at speed to stay in step. I have always believed it is possible for people whom have physical limitations to find a level of operations on a PWC that are believable. Once defined, and tested, one merely needs to keep moving with the helm, throttle and balance points, all which are personal to each individual. Not a problem. Warren is one of the myth busters.
Warren came to the starting line of the LB2CAT on July 12th, 2009, best prepared as he could be for going into an unknown. He had come up the day prior and spent the night at my house. A thorough going through of his boat and a team BBQ, the final assault had launched. Warren had dialed in his body positioning, adjusted his prosthesis needs and set his mind to not only going the distance but defining his own limits, not those set by a physical distraction.
This is a key observation I, along with others have appreciated about Challenged Athletes: As individuals they keep moving forward, knowing the despair of a life changing episode on a personal level, it takes a lot more to take away from their appreciation of achievement.
Warren's goals were not outside of any other able bodied athlete. In fact his competition results put him in a very stable position with our without a prosthesis. This rendered an stigmas or expectations of lower performance levels to be neutralized. Now the able bodied athletes simply had another able bodied competitor on the track with them, and a fast one at that!
I even harbored thoughts that Warren could ultimately beat me at my own game and I found pleasure in those thoughts. Why? Competition is healthy. It brings something out of us to push us beyond our own comfort level. Was I now too comfortable? Possibly.
The end result was Warren took home the LB2CAT National Challenged Athlete Championship title. RPM Racing Enterprises had the foresight to agree the time had come, a Challenged Athlete Division would be included,. Timely and deserving. Warren's National PWC Offshore Title will stand for one year. He has another race ahead of him in September 2009, and has already set the pace for those practice sessions. Warren doesn't need coaching any longer, he just needs Wide Open Throttle! And I think I also need a faster boat!
Congratulations to Warren Frank and the entire community of Challenged Athletes who compete because their spirit is fully engaged.
This is the first ever Challenged Athlete PWC category in the history of Personal Watercraft Racing. Warren just wrote the first chapter in our PWC history book for others as well as himself. Other racers will follow and set new marks and explode the racing scene with their own level of heroism, and we will all be cheering on those warriors who choose to battle life head on with "Heart and Soul'.
It is the mission of the Challenged Athletes Foundation to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Challenged Athletes Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.
July 12 - Long Beach to Catalina and back PWC race (personal watercraft)
"The race yesterday was grueling. Much harder than I expected. The start was crazy, All the pro guys with highly modified skis went ahead and everyone else including me had to follow in their white water which was wild. After about 8 miles everyone started dispersing and the water became easier to read.
Within about 10 min's after the start I started getting very bad forearm cramps but I pushed on. Once I got to Catalina and rounded the turn boat and on the way back I couldn't hold the throttle or the steering anymore and had to stop about 6 times going at idle speed while stretching my fingers and wrists backwards to loosen up my forearms.
Once my forearms were loose I could go at full speed at about 60 - 65 mph for a while and passing a few guys. At 65 mph the wind resistance is so great that I was leaning into the wind at a 45 degree angle and it was holding me up giving me a little bit of rest, but after a while the pain returned and I had to slow down and the guys I passed, passed me again.
I came 16th overall. My time was good but I could have done MUCH better. I came 1st in my division of only 3 challenged athletes. Granted I was on a much faster ski.
Next race I'm not going to be so tense with my hands at the start and I need to do some serious forearm workouts in the gym." -Warren Frank
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Warren Frank L and Ryan Levinson R
Mike Arnold, Shawn Alladio, Ryan Levinson, and Warren Frank
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