Adaptive Watersports in Boston with AccessSport America

A windsurfer on calm water, assisted by Ross Lilley.

Looking for FUN? 

Seeking some warm weather ADVENTURE before the end of summer? 

Consider AccessSport America! This Boston-based adaptive sports organization is changing people's lives for the better, even during the pandemic.

Activities offered include windsurfing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, stand-up paddling, rowing, cycling, soccer, fitness training and sports camps.

Benches and shade along the beach walk.

          I visited an AccessSport program at Malibu Beach on the south shore of Boston this week. Malibu Beach seems like a strange place to adventure in the city, with busy roadways on either side. I was surprised by the spacious opportunity to soak up the elements - sun, air, earth and water - and feel both fun and freedom. The unpopulated beach area offers accessible restrooms and an accessible beach stroll above the high tide line. Few people come to swim or sunbathe - its a great place to get some fresh air and open space off of William Morrissey Boulevard. Just be aware there is not much shade. The beach sand is a bit denser than on conventional beaches. 

People and gear crossing the sand to the water.

        Soon after I arrived, a young man showed up for his windsurfing lesson. His mom wheeled him backwards in his chair closer to the water's edge, then he stood up and walked into the water, guided by Ross Lilley. Ross has been teaching adaptive windsurfing since 1983 and founded AccessSport America in 1995 with his wife Jean. Their son Joshua, who has cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, has provided plenty of inspiration and test piloting in the quest for innovation. Find out more on AccessSport's website - they work in schools, accessible gyms, and at a sports camp in Florida. 

Selfie taken in the outrigger canoe looking back on 
windsurfing lesson.

      

      Ross and his red-shirted staff bring big smiles and playful energy to their programs. They weren't about to leave me out for a minute, and soon I was aboard a Hawaiian outrigger canoe for the first time in my life. In my job with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's Universal Access Program, I had helped Ross secure Malibu Beach as a program location this summer. I finally found some time to visit, and was unexpectedly rewarded by being included in the outing.

Ross and his student windsurfing together.

        The wind was steady on this coastal inlet, coming unusually from the south, so the windsurfing lesson quickly landed on the northern beach and had to work its way westward before launching a second time to better catch the wind. Ross was soon surfing with his student, linked by a rope, and picking up speed. The student was on an adaptive board wider than conventional, with a PVC pipe brace all the way around at the water's surface for added stability. I hope to return on another day to observe more people with disabilities using various adaptations.

Outrigger canoeing with four paddlers.

        After the lesson, we all piled into outrigger canoes for a bit of racing, learning how to paddle together along the way using different Polynesian techniques. I love the feeling of teamwork and the speed you can go with 3 or 4 people in your canoe. In no time we had circled the big inlet and were back on the beach in time for the next lesson. 

        I left after two young boys showed up to canoe. Standing with their fathers on shore as they paddled away, one said to me "So many people just don't know what opportunities are available right here in Boston!" Don't be left out any longer - find your way to an adaptive recreation opportunity near you!! Other outstanding organizations offering adaptive watersports this summer include Waypoint Adventure, Community Boating, and Spaulding Adaptive Sports. If you are an independent paddler and want to explore the Boston by water, Paddle Boston offers canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals at several locations.

      

Walking away from a wheelchair to the water's edge.

DCR (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation) advocates for people to be mindful of the pandemic situation and follow current safe practices outlined by the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health.