Families take to the surf in Tofino

We spent the weekend at Pacific Sands Beach Resort in Tofino where we met up with the families who would be joining us for a weekend filled with surfing, laughter and smiles. After unloading an all-terrain wheelchair, trail-riders, wetsuits and surf boards from the Adaptive Recreation van everyone settled in for a good night sleep in anticipation of the next day.

The next morning, the three fathers and their daughters pulled on their wetsuits and with a supportive team of surf instructors from Pacific Surf School we headed down to the water to begin our lesson. The father-daughter combos paired up with instructors and were given the chance to challenge themselves and try something new. 

The surfers were cheered on throughout the session by our two smiling cheerleader moms snapping photos from the shore. 

In the afternoon, after our three-hour surf session, a few of us headed out on a hike to explore the beautiful shoreline by the resort on Cox Bay. We collected seashells, climbed trees and watched the waves crash up onto the rocks. 

That evening, we gathered by the fire pit for a barbecue and marshmallow roast and a chance to share our stories and photos from the day. 

After a much needed sleep, the group reconvened on Sunday morning to do it all over again. The families were able to build on the skills they had learned the previous day and try out bigger and faster waves. 

We want to give a huge shout out to our three families, Pacific Sands Beach Resort and Pacific Surf School for helping to make this trip a huge success. 

– Story shared by Gaby Emmett, program facilitator