Surfing for everyone - yes, everyone!!

Based in Perranporth, Pegleg Bennett is the owner of Peg’s Surf Coaching, a Level 2 Surf Coach and current AASP World Champion (2022-23) in his division. Peg is a 50-something year old who has used a prosthetic leg throughout his life, and does not let it hold him back.

Peg’s Surf Coaching offers a place to learn to surf with coaches who are passionate about the sport, and believe it should be accessible to anyone who wants to give it a go.

In addition to regular lessons for all, Peg and his team specialise in coaching small groups or individuals to identify and work towards their own personal goal on their surfing journey.

While many share a goal of riding a wave, individual starting points can be very different.

Inclusivity and accessibility

The term now used in disability sport is ‘adaptive’, and this truly reflects the approach to surf sessions at Peg’s Surf Coaching. To achieve the levels of support and expertise required for inclusive surf sessions, Peg has trained himself and others in adaptive surf qualifications, as well as hiring a small team of experienced and specialist people to work alongside him, including a staff member trained in BSL.

Equipment and methods used to improve accessibility include: adapted surfboards with additional hand rails and/or wedges to lift the chest for better positioning in the water; additional support in the water; audio description and closeproximity coaching for blind and visually impaired surfers; BSL and visual communication techniques for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have difficulty accessing speech; improved beach access through hire of local beach wheelchairs; and specific permission from the Parish Council to use occasional vehicular access.

Peg maintains a ‘can-do’ attitude in his approach to coaching, and will work with you to overcome whatever obstacles you feel might hold you back. He has personal experience of potential ‘barriers’ - such as discrimination, pre-conceptions and non-inclusion in a range of scenarios - and as a result is determined to counteract such negativity in his own coaching.

Examples of people supported to surf

• Family sessions where one member of the family had a physical disability or learning difference, allowing them all to participate together;

• BSL translation for a deaf girl, allowing her to ask questions and communicate her fears and feelings, as well as receive tuition;

• 1:1 sessions for members of the English Adaptive Surf Team, focusing on their preparation for international competition;

• Additional ‘eyes in the water’ for a family where 2 out of 4 members have sight loss;

• Surf coaching using technique modifications for people with limb amputations;

• A private session for a surfer with PTSD, whose needs, triggers and modification approaches were discussed in advance and throughout her lesson;

• A ‘return to surf’ confidence and skill session for a stroke survivor.