There are about 3.72 million Americans who participate in surfing each year; the well-loved sport was even added to the Olympic Games as of 2021. But despite its popularity, learning to surf as an adult can be intimidating. Learning to surf with physical limitations? Even moreso.
The iconic Turtle Bay Resort along the North Shore of O’ahu, Hawaii is about to change that perception thanks to its brand-new adaptive surf program—a first for any resort in Hawaii. Although Hawaii has more than 5000 miles of potential surf breaks, the new inclusive program will mark the first commercially-available adaptive surf lessons in Hawaii.
Turtle Bay Resort has teamed up with x5 ISA Para Surf World Champion Victoria Feige in order to expand upon the resort’s existing Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience and making it accessible for more travelers to take up the art of surfing.
“I want to help other people with a disability enjoy the ocean like I do and I’m proud to offer premier adaptive surf lessons with the world-class team at JOB Surf Experiences,” Feige shared on the surf school website. “I’m so excited to take you surfing.”
Feige grew up snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing, but when she was just 18 years old, overshot a snowboard kicker and in turn, sustained a spinal cord injury that left her partially paralysized from the waist down. While she could have easily called it a day on her sports career, Feige pushed onto become North America’s first clinical physiotherapist who also uses a wheelchair. She also just happens to hold 5x ISA Para Surfing World Titles, 2x Adaptive ASP World Titles and a World Record.
“I fell in love with surfing after catching my first wave in Canada, but getting out there again after becoming a wheelchair user was challenging. In the warm, tropical waves here in Hawaii, it’s easy and I feel free, happy, and energized surfing—I want to help other people with disabilities feel that too,” said Feige, adding that, “surfing is for everybody.”
Students of the adaptive surf lessons will be assigned two instructors each and will head to a gentle and uncrowded surf break. The private lessons are meant to be easily tailored the the individual student’s needs, with golf carts an amphibious beach wheelchairs onhand to assist as needed. The lessons will also include equipment like rash guard tops and booties to ensure comfort while hitting the waves.
“As a co-founder of the world’s first commercial adaptive surf experiences with a para surfing champion, I’m so excited to offer specialized lessons. I became a physiotherapist, adaptive ski instructor, and now adaptive surf instructor because I wanted to pay it forward,” Feige explained. “When you see a person surfing independently after a serious accident and teaching other people with a disability to surf, it just hits different.”
The adaptive surf lessons at Turtle Bay Resort are open to resort guests and to the public alike—so those interested don’t necessarily have to be staying at the hotel. You can find out more information (including how to book a lesson) on the surf school website.
