Community Comes Together to Teach Adaptive Paddling to the Disabled

Officials from the Safety Harbor Recreation department, two local kayakers and dozens of patients from West Coast Brace and Limb will be at the Safety Harbor marina this afternoon for a free interactive course on adaptive paddling.

According to Julie Inman, directory of the Rigsby Recreation Center, the purpose of the event is to help those who have suffered the loss of limbs learn to thrive despite their disability while drawing attention to the benefits of paddle sports.

“This Saturday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Marina we are doing a small presentation for a limb loss group on adaptive paddling, aka kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding,” Inman said.

“We are hoping to spark some interest in paddling and down the road be able to offer a yearly or quarterly adaptive paddling event.”

One of the men who will be leading the course is local kayaking instructor Terry Hobbs of Severn Kayaking.

The retired veteran recently became certified to teach kayaking to the disabled, and he enjoys passing on his love and knowledge of the activity to others.

“I teach kayaking to wounded veterans, and one of the guys I taught is a member of West Coast Brace & Limb,” Hobbs said. 

“I gave a talk at a meeting there and a lot of people showed interest, so I spoke to Juile and she helped put it all together." 

Larry French, a veteran and an above-elbow amputee, said he would be there to help coordinate the event and demonstrate his kayaking skills.

“I'm an above elbow amputee, a hard amputation to fit for Recreation Prosthetics,” French said via email. “Thanks to Terry Hobbs, I'm proud to say that I have recently received my L-II certification in kayaking.”

French, who worked closely with West Coast Brace & Limb to develop special prosthetics that would work for him, has several videos on You Tube and encourage people to face their disabilities head-on.

“I hope to get many more limited functioning people onto the water so they too can enjoy the successes that I have enjoyed,” he said. 

“Too many people with limitations think they are too handicapped to enjoy sports such as kayaking ... they’re wrong!”

Hobbs, meanwhile, says he is offering his services for free right now in order to help fellow vets. 

“I was in the military, too. These guys have done their bit, so this is the least I can do.”