If you’re a traveller with a disability who would like to learn to surf, there’s no better place to head to than Hawaii. One surf organization has spent 12 years getting people of all abilities back into the water on the island of O’ahu.
Abigail and Devon on the water. Photo by AccesSurf
AccesSurf is based in Honolulu and their ‘Day at the Beach’ events run on the first Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm and are open to all residents and visitors. The program is free for everyone with a physical or cognitive disability and you don’t even need to register online beforehand.
All beach equipment is provided, you just need to bring suitable clothing and sun protection. As well as surfing, the volunteers will be on hand to help with assisted swimming and floating while you get used to the water. There’s also a separate program specifically for wounded veterans.
Meria and Rich get ready for a day in the water. Photo by AccesSurf
Cara Short spoke to Lonely Planet about the incredible feedback they receive. “Our programs are life-changing. For many people surfing and being in the ocean is something they thought they would never do or do again after an injury. Our programs are run by volunteers including adaptive athletes, they share their personal experience with new participants which empowers them to reach their own personal goals. Surfing and being on the water is not only healing it is the ultimate feeling of freedom.”
AccesSurf began as a small project in November 2006 and has grown to host 40 disability surfing events every year, helping to facilitate approximately 2500 experiences out on the ocean annually. Since its inception, the world of adaptive surfing has grown enormously and they even helped develop elements of the first-ever World Championships for Adaptive Surfing in 2015.
Ann goes to catch a wave. Photo by AccesSurf
While the goal of getting on the ocean is primarily to have fun, many people who join have fallen deeply in love with surfing. Out of the original group of volunteer and participants, there are Paralympic athletes, international competitors in adaptive surfing and even the head coach of the Hawaii Adaptive Surf Team.
If you’d like to have a go yourself, either as a participant or even a volunteer, you can find all the information you need and the next session online. There is also a sister organization in Okinawa in Japan.
What is adaptive surfing?
In a nutshell, adaptive surfing allows people of all abilities to surf in some way, even if they can’t stand up on a board. In the competitive world of adaptive surfing, there are five broad categories;
– Surfers who are in a standing or kneeling position
– Surfers who ride seated
– Surfers who are in a prone position
– Surfers who need assistance to paddle into the waves
– Surfers with a vision impairment
With surfing now set to make its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, there is a big push from the sporting world to include adaptive surfing (or ‘para-surfing’) in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
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