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Welcome to The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia

COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) UPDATE

19th March 2020

To all our participants, carers and especially volunteers around Australia and New Zealand.

Everyone is going through restrictions in everyday life due to the Corona Virus and the DSA is no exception. As our two nations combat the dilemma, we too have had to cancel many events, therefore restricting our ability to put smiles on dials.

Our nations will eventually combat this hideous issue and we will come back even stronger in changing the lives of so many people. We may be closing down events for the foreseeable future until authorities tell us it is safe to carryout our impeccable programs.

Be assured that we are not going anywhere, only growing stronger, yet aware of the welfare of our supporters, being you and your friends. Our attempt to establish our nineteenth branch in Tasmania has been postponed until later this year, yet again we will put in the efforts to bring this amazing organisation to all Tasmanian’s with a disability wishing to have a go at surfing.

Please take care and look after yourselves, as we look forward to a new and even more exciting 2020-2021 season. Until then stay safe.

Yours sincerely

Gary Blaschke
DSAA National President

ALL REMAINING 2019-2020 SEASON EVENTS HAVE NOW BEEN CANCELLED
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The DSA is uniquely Australian having ambitions to go global, whilst setting world’s best practice for the sport of Disabled Surfing. Initially set up for injured surfers, within a short time the DSA had dramatically widened its target group to cater for all disabilities that is anyone willing to have a go.

Unique because the DSAA is a total voluntary registered Public Benevolent Institution and Surfing’s only Registered Charity dedicated to the Disabled. This group of volunteers exist purely on the love of what they do with the support of our members and our local communities, together with the odd small government grant.

Currently having 16 branches across Australia and New Zealand our training programs are award winning for Outstanding Achievement in implementing Safe Sport Practices and Minister’s awards for Most Significant Contribution to Water Safety by an Organisation.

The DSAA is creating opportunities for everyone, including our disabled participants and able bodied volunteers, to experience our unique, safe and happy surfing events, whilst under complete supervision from our trained Team Leaders and Beach Marshalls.

We invite you along for this magical journey that many have already experienced over the past thirty years, without any pressure to win gold, just having fun and making new friends in your local community and around Australia and New Zealand.

Gary Blaschke
DSAA Founder

Surf N’ Turf – Beach & Bush Freedom

A unique partnership between wheelchair manufacturer Innovative Care Solutions and the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia Inc. have after three years completed trials on the newly designed Surf-n-Turf all terrain wheelchair.

The partnership has come up with what they believe to be the best beach wheelchair in the world with interchangeable wheels from balloon tyres to BMX wheels for bush tracks and pathways.

Having a unique rear wheel articulated steering system and four equal sized wheels which allow carers easier access across soft sand conditions and in the right conditions, access into the water, without getting stuck in divots or holes.

The Surf-n-Turf also has adjustable sitting positions and can fold down to become a stretcher for emergency services when suspecting spinal injuries at the beach or in the bush. A handy lifting sling is also part of the design for easier transferring of the disabled. This spectacular beach wheelchair is one of the very few which has a breaking systems for further safety and does not need stabilising bars to prevent flipping backwards.

The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia have tried most beach wheelchairs available on the market over the past three decades with the Surf-n-Turf being the friendliest, easiest, most robust and versatile, as we have had a great deal of input into its design, said Gary Blaschke D.S.A.A. National President.

For further information, contact the D.S.A.A. at www.disabledsurfers.org or call Gary on 0424 890 455.