Life does indeed roll on for the adaptive surfing community. An event at Martinique Beach is proof of that. 

Life Rolls On, established in 2001 by three-time world adaptive surfing champion Jesse Billauer of the United States, made its debut in Nova Scotia in 2014. The event allows people with mobility disabilities to experience freedom and mobility by riding a wave with the assistance of adaptive equipment and volunteers.

“The early network was development through health care,” said Alex Chandler, a founding member of Life Rolls On Nova Scotia’s board of directors. “Paula Green, who works in health care, did the initial outreach to Jesse … and for him to come and host our first event.”

Billauer was a world class surfer who broke his neck and became a quadriplegic at age 16. With the help of friends in the surfing community, he was able to get back into the sport and became a pioneer for others living with physical challenges.

The event has been held annually, with a few exceptions for COVID and poor weather, at the five-kilometre stretch of white sand in East Petpeswick, Halifax Co. The location is ideal for hosting large gatherings and can be modified to accommodate those with mobility issues.

This year’s day at the beach, held on Aug. 17, had more than 50 participants registered and a crew of about 150 volunteers. Extensive prep work goes into the event, from sponsorship and getting the beach ready beforehand to having support staff including therapists, first responders and volunteers who are in the water with the surfers available.

“Access to beaches for people in Nova Scotia who are in wheelchairs or who have adaptive needs is quite slim,” said Chandler. “So to have a fully accessible beach where everyone’s enjoying the experience and getting in the water is really great to see. We have adaptive beach chairs on site, so for someone to sit in those and feel the wave splash on your face, that’s as much as a success as surfing a wave.”

Chandler noted the social component to the event is as important, if not more so, than actually riding the waves. 

“The feedback we get year to year is usually from social media, and it’s been exceptionally positive,” he said. “I would argue that from a volunteer perspective, and from a family and adaptive surfer perspective, it is a highlight of their year.”

And there is nothing that will match the experience of having someone realize something that was no longer possible for them has become, in fact, a reality.

“There’s such a huge emotional component to it that can’t be understated. People are having breakthrough moments and life-changing experiences,” said Chandler. “People and families are having access to something that they rarely, if ever, get access to, so the impact is deep and substantial. There’s people down at the beach and in the water breaking into tears because they haven’t been in the ocean in 25 years, since their injury. The power of that and to witness that is exceptionally moving.”