Surfing for the disabled

Published 03 December 2008, Posted in Northland

The disabled community in New Zealand will get the opportunity to go surfing this summer!

The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia, (DSA), represented by Gary Blaschke, founder and President, Jim Bradley, Secretary, and Ted Kabbout, Committee delegate, gave an awesome presentation, “Testing the Waters”, to over 25 enthusiastic Kiwis in Auckland last Wednesday.

The response was wholeheartedly in favour of establishing a DSA NZ branch and developing the administrative structure that will enable people with a disability to experience surfing in a safe and professional environment.

The meeting revealed support not only from surfers and affiliated clubs, but also from the wider community, with many representatives from disability organisations. A further meeting is being held at The Warehouse Head Office, North Shore, on Wednesday December 10th at 7pm, to elect officials and prepare for training and delivery of the programme.

Eight DSA officials from Australia will visit New Zealand on February 14th and 15th 2009 to conduct a training day for DSA leaders, and the first ‘Hands On Day’ will follow one month later, again with some DSA officials from Australia in attendance. This massive personal support from the Aussies is very much appreciated, but that is not all. They will also supply NZ with six special softboards, a balloon tyred wheelchair, rash vests, and assorted equipment, plus $1000 to kick start our programme!

Volunteer assistance for the “Hands On Day” will need to be arranged but with many groups already willing, and more registering their support daily, it seems this will present no problem for the organisers. The most likely venues at this stage are Mt Maunganui and/or Orewa.

There is no need for volunteers to be concerned with the technical aspects of surfing, but rather the provision of a safe, exciting and fulfilling day at the beach where disabled people of all ages and abilities can participate.

A healthy self-concept, a sense of belonging, fun, and just plain feeling good physically are based on social and natural world experiences, and this is something that surfing can offer to the disabled.

Check out this story from the Dominion Post in Wellington about young Rohan who is autistic, and realy enjoys surfing.

Please contact Mark Shanks, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you can help, and also visit the website, www.disabledsurfers.org, for a full account of DSA philosophy and activities.

Photo at top from left to right Gary Blaschke, Jim Bradley, Curtis Palmer, Ted Kabbutz