Australian Pro Adaptive Surfing Championship

 I have just heard from my colleague about the THE BLACKMORES AUSTRALIAN PRO ADAPTIVE SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP | Adaptive Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour which was held at Byron Bay, March 17-22, 2024. She says, 'Adaptations included:  assisted / probe unassisted / kneeling / standing / intellectually disabled / blind / waveski ... it was an awesome opportunity for people to be classified by Dr Mo who was there providing classifications to help for the anticipation that it will be accepted as a sport for the next Paralympics now it's in the Olympics.'

Adaptive Surfing

"Operation Surf Santa Cruz 2015" by Presidio of Monterey: DLIFLC & USAG

This has started me on a search to learn more about the Association of Adaptive Surfing (AASP) Professionals which is the international governing body for professional adaptive surfing.  The Stoke for Life Foundation initiated the structure and leadership team of the AASP.  The Stoke for Life Foundation is a non-profit that is geared towards ocean therapy and adaptive water sports. 

I would love to hear more from anyone who attended or participated in the Pro Adaptive Surfing Championship event at Byron Bay. Since I am based at the beautiful Brisbane Bayside, there are opportunities for water sports in still water, with the closest surf beaches on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast in Queensland. 

Disabled Surfers Association of Australia leads the way nationally in adaptive surfing--see Disabled Surfers Association of Australia Inc | Smiles on Dials. Occupational Therapists have initiated surfing therapy and established a support organisation, such as the Super Groms Surf OT Program Surf Therapy and Ocean Safety | Super Groms Surf OT Program (supergromsot.com.au) in the Sutherland Shire of New South Wales. Ocean Mind (Ocean Mind - Changing lives through surfing) offers surf therapy in Victoria. There are 3 adaptive surfer groups in Queensland on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and most recently Discovery Coast--further details at Disabled Surfers Association of Australia website.

Bayside region

Anglicare offers monthly opportunities for people to participate in sailing and kayaking in the Bayside region. See Sailing | Sails at Bayside (sails-at-bayside.com.au). Anglicare in New South Wales has also run canoe projects to support Aboriginal students to learn to build canoes-- see Anglicare | Eden Canoe Project.

Sailability is a group run by volunteers who give their time freely to help people with sailing, based at Manly, Brisbane. Read more on the Sailability website at: Sailing for people with disability | Sailability Bayside | Manly

I have described Fish and Sing as a music museum outreach activity at:  Doing, being and becoming more active through playing part in community-based museum scenarios | Sandra Kirkwood - Academia.edu  I have not run this activity locally, but there is potential for adaptive fishing / singing.

I am currently exploring how people can participate in these ocean therapy and adaptive water sports to help linking with support services. It appears that volunteers run most of the groups, and that transport would be needed to access the surf therapy opportunities. Some occupational therapists established services and offer ongoing support for adaptive ocean sports. 

Interested to hear more from knowledgeable people to add further details to this post as they become available. Please share your experiences with us of what works, and what can be improved for the Brisbane Bayside. 

Feedback received:

Thanks to Sue for advice to see a UK perspective: The Wave Project (@WaveProject) / X (twitter.com)

Sandra Kirkwood
Occupational Therapist (Wynnum Manly)
mobile 0488 624 362

References

Emily D. Clapham, Cortney N. Armitano, Linda S. Lamont & Jennifer G. Audette (2014) The Ocean as a Unique Therapeutic Environment: Developing a Surfing Program, Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 85:4, 8-14, DOI: 10.1080/07303084.2014.884424

Amanda Hignett, Mathew P. White, Sabine Pahl, Rebecca Jenkin & Mod Le Froy (2018) Evaluation of a surfing programme designed to increase personal well-being and connectedness to the natural environment among ‘at risk’ young people, Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 18:1, 53-69, DOI: 10.1080/14729679.2017.1326829

Sandra Kirkwood (2011) Doing, being and becoming more active through playing part in community-based museum scenarios, Academia.edu pp. 364-379.   Doing, being and becoming more active through playing part in community-based museum scenarios | Sandra Kirkwood - Academia.edu

Annericke Leonard, Tatiana Tairi & Neville M. Blampied (2022) Tai Wātea/Waves of freedom: an evaluation of a surf therapy programme for improving psychosocial functioning in young men at high risk of adverse life outcomes, Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, DOI: 10.1080/14729679.2022.2153370

Jamie Marshall, Brendon Ferrier, Russell Martindale & Philip B. Ward (2023) A grounded theory exploration of programme theory within Waves of Wellness surf therapy intervention, Psychology & Health, DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2023.2214590

Adam M. Moore, Emily D. Clapham & Theresa A. Deeney (2018) Parents’ Perspectives on Surf Therapy for Children with Disabilities, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 65:3, 304-317, DOI: 10.1080/1034912X.2017.1400660

  1. Sam G. Moreton, Mary K. Brennan, Victoria I. Nicholls, Isabelle D. Wolf & David L. Muir (2022) Exploring potential mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic effects of surfing, Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 22:2, 117-134, DOI: 10.1080/14729679.2021.1884104

  2. Carly Rogers, Trudy Mallinson & Dominique Peppers (2014) High-intensity sports for post-traumatic syndrome disorder and depression: feasibility study of ocean therapy with veterans of Operating Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68:4, 395-404, DOI:  https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.011221

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