People with disabilities get chance to ride waves at Nova Scotia surf event

SurfAble presented the They Will Surf Again event at Nova Scotia’s Martinique Beach on Saturday.

The award-winning event is founded by Life Rolls On, an American organization dedicated to helping improve the lives of youth living with spinal cord injuries. It gives people living with disabilities the chance for freedom that only surfing can provide.

“What we do is take people with any sort of disability that couldn’t otherwise get out and surf on their own,”Luke Godin, president of SurfAble, said.

“With the right supports, anyone can do anything and these events show that,” he said.

“We’re taking people surfing that’d probably never dreamed of it and you know what, we can do it easily and do it safely.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We're taking people surfing that'd probably never dreamed of it and you know what, we can do it easily and do it safely."

More than 40 adventurous individuals hit the beach in hopes of catching a wave.

“It’s just a day that’s filled with a lot of inspiration and freedom and independence and a lot of joy, a lot of smiles,” Jesse Billauer, the founder of Life Rolls On, said.

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Billauer became a quadriplegic following a life-changing surfing accident nearly 20 years ago. He formed the organization as a way of helping to improve the quality of life for other young people living with spinal cord injuries. Since then he has gone on to do public speaking events all over the world and is a world champion quadriplegic surfer. He said he is happy to see the event become a success in Nova Scotia.

“I think it builds a lot of confidence in these people to take to their every day lives,” Billauer said. “To ride a wave is just really priceless for these people.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think it builds a lot of confidence in these people to take to their every day lives," Billauer said. "To ride a wave is just really priceless for these people."

More than 14 clients from the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) also took part in the event this year.

Ali Allawi said he and his family moved to Halifax from Iraq two years ago. He came to Martinique Beach along with his wife so that his two sons, Hussein and Ayoob, could experience surfing for the first time.

“My son is very, very happy,” he said. “We go to the ocean, but beach like this, no.”

He said he was happy for all the participants taking part in the event.

“When we help people with the disability, they feel good to their heart.”

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ISANS Settlement Counsellor Sarah Abdo said many of her clients had never heard of surfing before this event.

“A lot of these people are coming from cultures where once you have a disability…that’s pretty much it,” she said, adding oftentimes taking part in recreational sports is out of the question.

“Coming to this country as newcomers and seeing how we’re able to adapt environments and situations to cater to their needs, get them out and having fun, it was huge for them.”

SurfAble organizers said they hope to bring the event back to Martinique Beach next year.