I was contacted by a guy who is paralyzed for the waist down who wants to surf, or as he put ride waves. My question is has anyone on the great site ever built a board for someone like this? I was thinking more like a surfski that he could sit on top with a back brace and use paddles to turn. He kayaks now but really wants to ride some waves… Thanks Mark
I was contacted by a guy who is paralyzed for the waist down who wants to > surf, or as he put ride waves. My question is has anyone on the great site > ever built a board for someone like this? I was thinking more like a > surfski that he could sit on top with a back brace and use paddles to > turn. He kayaks now but really wants to ride some waves…>>> Thanks Mark… …Yes Mark,You’re on the right track.wide, thick,nose flipped,and with a concave deck works well.Herb
…Yes Mark,You’re on the right track.wide, thick,nose > flipped,and with a concave deck works well.Herb Herb, Sounds like you have done this before, any suggestions on dimensions? Thanks in advance Mark
I was contacted by a guy who is paralyzed for the waist down who wants to > surf, or as he put ride waves. My question is has anyone on the great site > ever built a board for someone like this? I was thinking more like a > surfski that he could sit on top with a back brace and use paddles to > turn. He kayaks now but really wants to ride some waves…>>> Thanks Mark A semi-recent surf magazine had a small article about a surfer with a similar situation - I think it was in Longoard - who was in the water with a longboard customized for prone riding. That would give more bouyancy and make paddling easier, rather than the bodyboard with swimfin angle. If memory serves they had photos too. I would be leery of being strapped into something under those circumstances. And in a 60’s vintage surf movie I recall seeing a young disabled Hawaiian who rode a smaller surfboard (for the era) prone, pushing himself up and down for leverage. Nels
I was contacted by a guy who is paralyzed for the waist down who wants to > surf, or as he put ride waves. My question is has anyone on the great site > ever built a board for someone like this? I was thinking more like a > surfski that he could sit on top with a back brace and use paddles to > turn. He kayaks now but really wants to ride some waves…>>> Thanks Mark Mark, back in the early sixties, there was a surfer in Hawaii, Lee Wei Do. He was a polio victim with legs that were useless for walking. He was one of the most progressive surfers in the islands. Only lying on his board, he would scoot forward and back, jambing tme most radical bottom turns combined with carves off the top. In hollow sections, he would scramble to the nose with his upper torso hanging “bod”. A remarkable person, using his disabilities to the utmost.
Mark, back in the early sixties, there was a surfer in Hawaii, Lee Wei Do. > He was a polio victim with legs that were useless for walking. He was one > of the most progressive surfers in the islands. Only lying on his board, > he would scoot forward and back, jambing tme most radical bottom turns > combined with carves off the top. In hollow sections, he would scramble to > the nose with his upper torso hanging “bod”. A remarkable > person, using his disabilities to the utmost. I remember a guy who surfed the El Cap region back in the late 60’s early 70’s. He had a kneeboard of sorts and did quite well.
Herb, Sounds like you have done this before, any suggestions on > dimensions? Thanks in advance Mark …It would definitely depend on the persons abilities,and capabilities,as well as height,weight,age,etc. …I built a couple for some disabled vets in the 6ft.x 200lbs.+ range,in there mid to late 50s ,BOTH paraplegics,with good surf experience,but had not been out in along while.They surfed them sitting. …This is what I built them: 10’ x 25",18" nose,20" tail…3-7/8" thick.center 3-1/2" back,ultra flat bottom,rounder square(really,really rounded)tail,and a 1/2" deep, 3/4 deck concave.A hopped up 2+1 fin set-up,moved quite a bit forward like 20" on the side bites,and 10" up on the center box.The nose even being 18" was pinched/pulled in,and flipped alot,(elf shoe nose,gennie slipper)in the last 6".Tail rocker was I believe 3" just a natural even flow no radical flips.Also soft but boxy rails with a hard edge just about all the way around the board.The concave was padded with neoprene 1/4" rubber NO NYLON !!!The seat was built of a kayak soft rig using ofishl deck plugs to fasten it to the board. …ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW?..OH YEAH,THEY LOVED THEM!!!Herb