Surfing England are proud to have been driving the development of Adaptive Surfing in England. It is a key area we strive to see go from strength to strength in the next 5 to 10 years and beyond, as we look to increase participation and inclusivity in our sport.  

Our mission is for everyone regardless of needs or circumstances to, as easily as possible, experience the joy of surfing.  

Our aim is to enable more individuals to have the freedom to take a risk, to push boundaries, to experience the exhilaration of the ocean. The physical and mental health wellbeing benefits of the ocean must be accessible for all. 

Our ambitions are to see more Surf Schools able to offer adaptive surfing sessions, to support the development of this structure, and to see more people being able to independently enjoy the freedom of surfing. We believe that Adaptive Surfing should be part of a fully integrated service available from Surfing Centres across England. These centres will be fully stocked with the equipment required to enable entry and progression with staff that are trained to coach and support the development of adaptive surfing, to whatever level the surfer chooses.  

We have already undertaken consultation through focus groups of adaptive surfers and coaches. We are now launching the next phase which is to run wider consultancy with organisations and centres delivering adaptive surfing in England. We would also like to hear from centres who do not currently deliver adaptive surfing. The outcome of the consultation will be to create a clear picture of where we are now in terms of integrated adaptive surfing provision and where we need to be to be able to fully achieve our aims and ambitions. The results of the consultations will help to inform funding applications and appeals to achieve our aims.  

The English Adaptive Surfing Open has recently completed its 4th year of the Event, and was delivered at The Wave, Bristol, showcasing this accessible venue. The event has gone from strength to strength, attracting an International crowd from over 12 countries in 2019 – England are well and truly on the map in the global adaptive surfing network. We have also been delivering specialist training with Surfability UK CIC which has benefitted over 60 coaches in the previous 4 years.  

Team England Adaptive also medal on the World Stage – we have gold, silver, and bronze medals, and are so proud of the surfers for their dedication and achievements. It is with the support and commitment of Team Manager Andy Joyce, Head Coach Matt Harwood, and Spike Kane, Directing the stoke that have culminated in these achievements and England attending World Championships with a strong team.  

The Wave (Bristol) have been instrumental in supporting this development over the last 4 years, with the culmination a facility designed with inclusivity at its core. 

The survey is open now! Please take part today – click here. Closes Tuesday 2nd March 2021.

Surfing England are a not-for-profit membership organisation. To support projects such as this, please join the Surfing England community today. Your funds help us to share the stoke & deliver great things in English surfing. Membership starts at just £18/year (Junior) to £25/year (Adult). Joint and Family memberships also available. Joining takes minutes – be a part of our journey – click here.

For more information on the project or questions on the survey, please contact Hannah on: hannah@surfingengland.org