Miss-Delectable
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Florida Surfing Association teaches the deaf to surf
36 volunteers make surfing happen for 20 kids from Florida School fo rthe Deaf & Blind
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 June, 2011 : - - The Florida Surfing Association has kicked the 2011 Summer Surf Season into high gear this month. This past weekend, Saturday the 18 , the FSA taught 20 deaf students from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind how to surf at lot 8 in Hanna Park. This was first time this has ever been and done what a success it was. With the help of 36 volunteers , the qualified FSA surf instructors each paired up with a student out in the water, with hopes of sharing their love and appreciation for the ocean by the end of the day.
This program, Silent Surfers, has been in the works for almost a year and in fact the instructors started learning how to sign back in November to make sure this was the ultimate experience for these students. “It was one of the most successful events we have ever done; let alone the highest caliber of volunteers I have ever seen came together to provide this opportunity,” quoted FSA director Paul West.
Of course the athletes were nervous at first. Beginners always are when they are about to test their strength out in the ocean, but this group seemed a little more intense than usual. However, those worried faces turned into mile long smiles by the end of the day and the instructors had to pry the boards from the student’s hands when it was time to leave. The students did an excellent job and proved to be a group of extremely gifted athletes. Aside from their gratefulness at the end of the day, all everybody wanted to know was when we would be doing this again. “Perhaps in September,” West said.
After several hours of surfing the students were awarded with medals, t-shirts, and food all donated by an anonymous sponsor. It was a terrific start to the summer and a great beginning of many special projects to follow. For more information on upcoming events such as the Special Olympics Surfing Program, Wounded Warriors and Super Grom Surf Festivals please visit floridasurfing.org or call Paul West at 904-626-9090. Here is a link with some amazing photos from the day:
Florida Surfing Association | Surfing Competitions
36 volunteers make surfing happen for 20 kids from Florida School fo rthe Deaf & Blind
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 June, 2011 : - - The Florida Surfing Association has kicked the 2011 Summer Surf Season into high gear this month. This past weekend, Saturday the 18 , the FSA taught 20 deaf students from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind how to surf at lot 8 in Hanna Park. This was first time this has ever been and done what a success it was. With the help of 36 volunteers , the qualified FSA surf instructors each paired up with a student out in the water, with hopes of sharing their love and appreciation for the ocean by the end of the day.
This program, Silent Surfers, has been in the works for almost a year and in fact the instructors started learning how to sign back in November to make sure this was the ultimate experience for these students. “It was one of the most successful events we have ever done; let alone the highest caliber of volunteers I have ever seen came together to provide this opportunity,” quoted FSA director Paul West.
Of course the athletes were nervous at first. Beginners always are when they are about to test their strength out in the ocean, but this group seemed a little more intense than usual. However, those worried faces turned into mile long smiles by the end of the day and the instructors had to pry the boards from the student’s hands when it was time to leave. The students did an excellent job and proved to be a group of extremely gifted athletes. Aside from their gratefulness at the end of the day, all everybody wanted to know was when we would be doing this again. “Perhaps in September,” West said.
After several hours of surfing the students were awarded with medals, t-shirts, and food all donated by an anonymous sponsor. It was a terrific start to the summer and a great beginning of many special projects to follow. For more information on upcoming events such as the Special Olympics Surfing Program, Wounded Warriors and Super Grom Surf Festivals please visit floridasurfing.org or call Paul West at 904-626-9090. Here is a link with some amazing photos from the day:
Florida Surfing Association | Surfing Competitions
