Surf for people with disabilities on International Surf Day in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Surf for people with disabilities on International Surf Day in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 21 June 2014. Clece has joined the celebrations of International Surf Day in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, making surfing possible for people with intellectual disabilities, with the Surf for everyone programme on Las Canteras beach. The initiative, which is organised in collaboration with the Hopupu SURF school, has helped people with intellectual and sensorial disabilities enjoy a great day out in the sea with other surfers and helped by monitors and technical sports specialists.

Surf for everyone is part of the range of activities organised by the Association of Surf Schools of Gran Canaria and Las Palmas city council City of the Sea department as part of International Surfing Day. The event attracted more than 20,000 people to Playa de las Canteras, where attendants learned of the benefits of surfing, with introductory classes given at all levels of ability.

From Playa de la Laja to Las Canteras

Clece began organising Surf for everyone three years ago to ensure these benefits of surfing could be accessed by people with disabilities. This social therapy project is aimed at people with intellectual disabilities from the Clece-managed San José de Las Longueras Mentally Handicapped Care Centre in Telde, with the aim of helping these people (with autism, Down’s syndrome, microcephaly or cerebral palsy, among other conditions) take part in leisure activities that act as a different form of therapy, letting them integrate normally while enjoying the benefits of surfing and spending time on the beach.

These benefits include the ability to be able to take part in an open-air activity; the beneficial properties of the sea and the sun (phototherapy); developing social skills; proprioception (awareness of one’s own body); the functions of dressing and undressing; and physical and rehabilitating stimuli.

Given the innovative and social nature of the initiative, Clece was keen to transfer the activity from Playa de la Laja, where it usually takes place, to Las Canteras beach, joining up with International Surf Day in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.