Paulo Pereira is ready to catch a wave. Or two, or three.
The morning is bright and sunny, and the ocean is just right. A team from the nonprofit SurfAddict project is holding a free inclusive surfing event at Carcavelos Beach, a popular seaside spot southwest of Lisbon, Portugal’s capital. Trained volunteers help transfer Mr. Pereira, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, to a specialized wheelchair that can move across sand. From there, he is paired with a volunteer on an adapted surfboard – and then, surf’s up!
“It makes me feel more independent,” says Mr. Pereira, the glee obvious on his face. “The sea comes, carries me; then I wait for the next wave. … To anyone who thinks surfing isn’t for people with disabilities, I’d say: Just try it.”
Why We Wrote This
Surfing the ocean can be intimidating for those with mobility challenges. A program in Portugal makes the activity easier and fun for surfers – and for volunteers, who bask in the joy on the participants’ faces.
Other session participants are just as jubilant. Some are reluctant to leave the sea, and volunteers have to gently persuade them to let others have the opportunity to surf, even if for only a few minutes. Eighty participants are attending on this day.
The sessions, organized by the Portuguese Association of Adapted Surfing, are held at beaches across mainland Portugal and its islands. Project manager Teresa Abraços, a former surfing champion, says participants find the sessions liberating and spontaneous. She also basks in all the fun the surfers are having.
“My heart is full of happiness when I see them enjoying these surfing days,” Ms. Abraços says.
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