Adaptive Water Sports

Safe & Fun Ways To Return To The Water

Summer is here, and if you live anywhere near California I am sure you’ve felt the heat! I personally, love the warm weather, it reduces my aches, pains, and spasticity and urges me to get in the water—a place for real fun in the sun. And believe it or not, that’s me in the photo below, my right hand strapped tightly to a jet ski, six years post spinal cord injury!

Since that photo, I have experienced many forms of safe, adapted water sports—some of my favorites include: water skiing, kayaking, rafting, rowing, sailing, surfing, scuba diving, paddle boarding and fishing!

I am inspired by so many incredible adaptive athletes around the world who have made water sport their passion and who’ve generously shared their journey— they have opened the door to what’s possible for me and you…

Friends like:

• Jet Ski racer, Anthony Radetic – anthonyradetic.com
• Surfing icon, Jesse Billauer – jessebillauer.com
• Kayaker extraordinaire, Grant Korgan – grantkorgan.com
• Water Skier / Artist, Tommy Hollenstein – tommyhollenstein.com
• Rowing legend— the late, great, Angela Madsen – rowoflifedoc.org
• Scuba Diving ace, Melissa Allensworth – youtube.com/watch?v=uR6SlOAkUYI
• Fly Fisherman, Jesse Alberi – challengelimitation.org

Additionally, there are an array of community organizations that facilitate an adapted return to the water…

Groups such as:

• Surfing – liferollson.org
• Kayaking/Rafting/Paddle Boarding – pushing4independence.org
• Water Skiing – usaadaptivewaterski.org
• Rowing – carplb.tripod.com/about.htm
• Sailing – ussailing.org/education/adult/adaptive-sailing/sailor-resources/
• Scuba Diving – hsascuba.com
• Fly Fishing – challengelimitation.org

So, as the weather warms up and the cool water calls, I encourage you to get out there and get wet—swim, splash, drift and rip the waves because a little water does the body good.

Cheers to good times ahead!

Aaron