In the world where we live, we exist with the perceptions that there are limitations to the feats that the human body could perform. This is why we presume that people who are disabled cannot take part in sports or any athletic event which requires the use of the body when one part or the other is not functioning at its best. People who have become disabled through one or the other unfortunate occurrence of fate think so otherwise because they have proven to us time and again that their limitations will not hold them back from going after their dreams.
This is why these disabled people are setting examples for everyone else by giving their participation in mainstream sports and in addition to that, they are also being seen taking part in various other unusual activities like speed skating, dragon boating and in various ultramarathons. There are also some who push their limits by volunteering participation in not just the regular but also in extreme sports. Amongst these shining examples is one of a mountaineer David Lim who at the age of fifty pursues his true passion despite partial disability in both of his legs. (SINGH, 2015)
This was just one example. There are plenty more out there to take lessons from, for in sports which seem to scare completely able people like snowboarding and surfing, people with disabilities are coming forward to take part. These sports ensure inclusion by supporting people with a wide variety of incapacities with this pleasure some of which may include shortcomings like blindness, autism, spinal injuries, partial paralysis and even missing limbs. (Garza, 2017)
For the scope of this paper, we are going to focus only on surfing and how it relates to the disabled; why these people despite the added challenges and risks take part in this activity and what added risks could be attached to the practicing of this extreme sport. For the brightest aspect of the matter, we will also be delving into the benefits which have these extreme sportsmen and women coming back day after day to participate in surfing.
Amongst the disabled, the motivation towards involvement in extreme sports could be found in the story of Eric Dargent who suffered shark attack in the year 2011 and underwent amputation in his left leg. Even though the passion of surfing took away the function in his left leg, he is still determined on living life to its fullest because, in his experience, a near-death occurrence gave him an even greater appreciation for activities which make him feel alive. Because of his constant efforts and passion towards surfing, Dargent represented France in the year 2015 in an adaptive surfing championship. (Harrenia, 2015)
Not only do these sports surfing in specific give new life to the disabled, but they also prove to be therapeutic and healthy for their social accomplishment. For many with a disability who have tried out something as extreme as surfing with reluctance, the practice has been seen to become part of their lives and become more and more frequent.
Archie Pollock was eleven when he first got up on the surfing board, and his challenge was autism, one who hindered not just his ability for writing but also for speaking. He was taken by his mother to a Discovery surf school near to their residence. She had more than mere reservations about the step that she was taking but contrary to the worst of her expectations, little Archie no longer felt like excluding surfing from his life after that one experience. (Morris, 2012)
Now the surf lessons leave young Archie calmer and at ease with the people around. Surfing may have seemed like a risk for a boy like him from the get-go, but the sport considerably made life better for him in quality. (Morris, 2012) This is one more reason why even those with a disability enjoy to get on the surfboard and ride the waves because out there on the water, they feel exhilarated and independent for once.
Specifically, amongst people who have seen a life free of disability and who become incapacitated in the aftermath of accident or a medical condition, they start comparing what life used to be like versus what they see it as in their future. In their state of hopelessness and despair, extreme sports like surfing come as a way of taking back control because through participation in these extreme sports, these special ones feel control returning to their lives and it takes away the stress of the disability to an extent.
Extreme sports including surfing are however quite dangerous, and they are especially dangerous for those who have become disabled. Riding the waves may be a great deal of fun but it is no simple feat for the task requires serious skill and practice. Even the best of athletes have been seen to become injured or fall off the surfboard or take a wrong turn and lose control over the power of the waves. Keeping on grips with the sport could be especially challenging for those who has special considerations and being out there against the force of nature is especially risky for them.
Cameron Irwin got off of the wheelchair and onto the surfboard and in the own words of the surfer, he is unable to paddle, and because of the severity of his injury of the neck, he cannot even lift up his head. He has pushed his hands to work at their 100 percent, and they are still not as strong as he remembers them to be. (Aktin, 2013)
When faced with a situation where matters seem to be getting out of hand, the disabled people are more likely to feel at loss of control because they would not be able to prevent an incident as capable as would a person who has full function in the body and all of the limbs. This is why with people suffering from a disability, the chances of accidents are greater. Where the surfboard fails to provide support in the water, a disabled person is more likely to drown since all of the limbs or the mind would not be able to work at full capacity and the person will therefore not be prepared.
Another risk is one who associates with individuals who are used to seeking out activities which provide arousal and thrill. If such a person who ever loves to engage in risky activities is also the one disabled, the risks associated with extreme sports rise that much higher. This is because that person is accustomed to running after goals which his body or mind may be unable to help out with.
A published study explains this is seeking out of thrill with the help of the reversal theory which refers to a ‘par atelic protective frame.' This concept includes a situation where the person is under the perception of being in safety even when circumstances and conditions of danger are around him/her. (Pain & Kerr, 2004) with people who live with this mindset, participation in extreme sports with the additional disadvantage of disability could lead to further risks and complications which may take the person close to suffering death.
There are however more than a few safety measures which could be taken with adaptive surfing. With people who aspire for participation in extreme sports with a disability to work around the rules of surfing should be crystal clear, and this is why it is imperative to train these participants before they are exposed to real life conditions of surfing. In addition, they should be provided with the proper gear which could support them to the maximum possible extent in the off chance that they might find themselves looking in the face of danger or a threat to life. So if a person is disabled from losing one or more limbs, surfing should not be without prosthetics because with that prosthetics the support available while surfing is significantly greater. ("Surfing - preventing injury," n.d.)
At the end of the day, all of the risks which come with adaptive surfing are worth it because the benefits of the exercise far outweigh the possibility of loss. Not only does the activity give a purpose to the life of the disabled, but it also takes good care of the health needs of the individual.
The benefits are far greater in children compared to adults, and we are going to explore how. Like children who have full function in their body, children with special needs also require exercise on a daily basis for optimal health and the lifestyle which disabled children lead for obvious reasons does not cater for their exercise needs. Adaptive surfing is a very useful way of getting the required aerobic exercise to these children with disability. (Armitano, 2013)
In added benefit, the qualities of water provide the surfers with a greater sense of independence because due to increase resilience while on water, disabled persons whose mobility is less than perfect on land are more able to function very close to a completely able individual while on water. This is because of the quality of water of providing support. (Armitano, 2013)
These disabled men and women who have been participating in extreme sports have been giving us a silent message of how we could improve the quality of life for ourselves and we should listen to that message and follow suit because if despite losing ability in the body they cannot seem to quit, there has to be something satisfying about extreme sports.
List of References
Aktin, M. (2013). From wheelchair to waves - a surfer's story of defying disability. Abc.net.au. Retrieved 24 January 2017, from http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3803642.htm
Armitano, C. (2013). The effectiveness of a Surfing Intervention on Children with Disabilities. Open Access Master's Thesis, 1-3. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=theses
Garza, J. (2017). Physical Disabilities Can't Stop People From Snowboarding. Streetdirectory.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017, from http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/42103/extreme_sports/physical_disabilities_cant_stop_people_from_snowboarding.html
Harrenia, C. (2015). Surfers With Physical Disabilities Hang Ten At Championship Event. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 24 January 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/adaptive-surfing-championship_us_5604d589e4b0768126fd0c78
Morris, J. (2012). Is surfing therapy for disabled? - BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 24 January 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-18490936
Pain, M. & Kerr, J. (2004). An extreme risk taker who wants to continue taking part in high-risk sports after a serious injury. British Journal Of Sports Medicine, 38(3), 337-339. Retrieved from http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/38/3/337.full
SINGH, B. (2015). People with disabilities pushing the extreme in sports. The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 January 2017, from http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/people-with-disabilities-pushing-the-extreme-in-sports
Surfing - preventing injury. Betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 24 January 2017, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/surfing-preventing-injury
