Adaptive Surfing Opens Up Sport To Wider Participation Than Ever Before

20th September 2020

French champion adaptive surfer Eric Dargent Credit: International Surfing Association/Sean Evans

Surfing schools in Ireland do a brisk trade in helping novices of all abilities to ride the waves.

Putting that notion to the test recently was Irish Times columnist Joanne O’Riordan, who was born without limbs, as she discovered the world of adaptive surfing.

Inspired by Irish women’s surfing pioneer (now marine biologist) Easkey Britton, O’Riordan headed for Lahinch where Ben’s Surf School provided her first taste of the experience.

Far from being an outlier, surfing for people with disabilities is in active development by the Irish Surfing Association, which is petitioning for adaptive surfing’s inclusion in the 2024 Olympics.

Now a small number of Irish surf schools, as well as non-profit groups, offer specific programmes for people with differing abilities, opening the sport to wider participation than ever before.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

Published in Surfing

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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