Breaking Barriers
The Power of Adaptive Surfing
Regardless of one's background or abilities, we at Kima Surf think that everyone should be able to enjoy the healing powers of surfing. We want to enable everyone to surf by removing barriers and empowering people through sharing the stoke of surfing. Surfing is more than a sport; it's a way of experiencing true freedom, improving self-confidence, and connecting with nature. We're passionate about bringing Adaptive Surfing to people with disabilities because we've personally witnessed how the ocean can inspire and transform.
We recently had the amazing opportunity to teach surfing to children with hearing impairments from the Jack Price Project and kids with Visual Impairments from the Slbn 1 School in Denpasar. This is only the start, adaptive Surfing is fostering a more welcoming and encouraging surf community. At Kima Surf, we are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience surfing.
What is Adaptive Surfing?
People and children with disabilities can now enjoy the freedom of surfing thanks to Adaptive Surfing, a special and inclusive style of surfing. Its main goal is to adapt surfing to make it possible for children who have different physical or mental disabilities so that they can experience the ocean and catch some waves. Adaptive surfing is about using tactics and specialised gear, including bespoke seating or modified boards, to suit their capabilities. Adaptive Surfing aims to make surfing accessible to everyone and break the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from trying the sport. It is a great sport that aims to redefine what was once perceived as impossible.
Adaptive Surfing has developed a lot over the years and is currently fighting for its place in the Paralympic Games. Currently, professional adaptive surfers are representing their countries in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships, giving the sport a spotlight on the global stage. The International Surfing Association (ISA) has been a vocal supporter of Adaptive Surfing. Putting Adaptive Surfing on the global stage is a great way to demonstrate that surfing is a sport for everyone, regardless of constraints, and they also encourage others to participate by showcasing the amazing skills of adaptive surfers.
Benefits of Adaptive Surfing?
Adaptive Surfing has both mental and physical advantages, Adaptive Surfing is a great tool for healing and personal development for people with disabilities. In addition to providing a sense of independence and connection to nature, surfing can assist people with disabilities develop their strength, balance, and coordination. Riding a wave can break down the boundaries that people with disabilities are typically told they cannot do by increasing mental resilience, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the advantages for the individual, encouraging the adapted surfing movement is crucial for advancing equality and inclusivity.
By encouraging Adaptive Surfing, we contribute to the development of a society in which individuals with varying abilities can unite, celebrate differences, and discover the transformative potential of the ocean. Adaptive Surfing breaks barriers and redefines what is possible for everyone.
The Kids: The Jack Price Project
Kima Surf taught the kids from the Jack Price Project to surf! The Jack Price Project is an NGO, which was founded in 2016, and was established in honour of Jack Price, who unfortunately died at the age of 18. The organization's goal is to give impoverished and disabled children and young people in Indonesia opportunities that will change their lives while also providing them with emotional and physical care. The project offers a variety of sports and leisure activities, including yoga, swimming, soccer, Muay Thai, and more, to help kids stay active, gain confidence, and acquire important life skills. They also offer educational support, which includes help with homework, English language acquisition, and career readiness. Through these efforts, the Jack Price Project is making a significant difference, helping children with disabilities, including hearing impairments and physical challenges like cerebral palsy, gain strength, improve flexibility, and enrich their daily lives.
The initiative
On the 25th of January, we taught four visually impaired students from the SLBN 1 Denpasar School how to surf, with a 30-minute warm-up and land-based explanation, the day got off to a lively start. Although the kids worked on their surf stances and pop-ups, it was a little difficult for the kids who were fully blind to stand on the board. To accommodate their demands, we modified the lesson so that they could ride the waves on their stomachs. Every youngster received encouragement and support during the event thanks to the efforts of our incredible volunteers. We concluded the day after an hour of surfing, and we were ecstatic to witness these kids' connections to the ocean.
We then held our second Adaptive Surf Day with ten children who had hearing impairments on February 19th. Like our first session, the day started of on a positive note with a 30-minute warm-up and surf prep on shore. Richard and Claire, founders of the NGO, were there to help the youngsters understand our surf guides' instructions by communicating with them in sign language. We spent an hour in the water with the help of our incredible volunteers, and the kids did a fantastic job riding wave after wave. We concluded the day with some local food, an epic sunset and a fun game of beach football following the surf session. These children had the opportunity to feel the ocean's therapeutic power, and both days were full of joy, progress, and excitement.
Future Vision:
Our goal at Kima Surf is to keep spreading the love of surfing as much as we can while expanding the opportunity for people of all abilities to benefit from the ocean's restorative properties. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone may experience the fun and freedom that surfing offers, irrespective of background or ability. We at Kima Surf are thrilled to continue spreading the word about surfing's ability to inspire, connect, and heal as many people as we can. Come stay at Kima Surf and feel the stoke directly if you want to discover the joy of surfing for yourself.
