Giving everyone the opportunity to surf

IT WAS surfs up at Inverloch for the Disabled Surfers Association Bass Coast’s first event of the year on Sunday, January 21.

The event allows those with a disability to have a go at surfing among other activities, surrounded by dedicated volunteers to ensure it’s a safe and enjoyable experience.

It also allows their family or carers to sit back and relax while watching the fun unfold.

Disabled Surfers Association Bass Coast vice president Dan Bruce explained they have four events per year at both Inverloch and Phillip Island.

“This is the first event for the year, we do free food for all our volunteers and this year is the first year we’ve done it free for the surfers,” he said.

“When the participants are there, depending on their disability they go to a certain flag.

“(Volunteers) come down and use the beach wheelchairs to take them down to the waters.”

Once in the water, participants are guided on a surfboard through the waves with a volunteer hoping on the back to keep the board straight with others assisting.

When the surf is finished, participants are cheered on with their special moment caught on camera.

Dan highlighted they’re getting more and more people registering for the events and hope to get as many as they can.

“For the parents that come down, they’re so stoked because it’s usually the only time they can bring their child with a disability to the beach and have all this support,” he said.

For more information on upcoming events, visit campsite.bio/basscoastdsa