Surfers find freedom in the waves at Nova Scotia beach

Surfers of all abilities hit the water at Martinique Beach in Nova Scotia this weekend for the annual Life Rolls On surf celebration.

Surfers of all abilities hit the water at Martinique Beach this weekend for the annual Life Rolls On surf celebration.

“I love it, it’s fantastic,” says first-timer Reema Abbelghani.

Celebrating it’s tenth year; the event allows people with disabilities to get back into the ocean and ride the waves.

“It’s amazing. Honestly, when you catch the big waves, it feels sort of feels like you’re flying for a minute,” says Abbelghani.

“I was just telling my husband that falling in the water and getting to taste the salt water again was so amazing because I forgot what it tasted like. So it was great to be able to have that experience and all the support and love that comes with it.”

Abbelghani says the event gave her a sense of freedom.

“I love this event so much. It’s one of the few times that we as folks with disabilities can get out and feel completely free and supported to try anything we want to try and just be able to be back in the water and feel that freedom again.”

This was Hubbard’s fourth year with the program, she says this will also be her final event.

“I am terminally ill and won’t be able to make it out again. But knowing that this is my last time in the ocean and my last time getting to surf a wave, and the whole team was so supportive of me. Wanting to stay out there past their lunch break, just so I could get another wave, it was such an amazing feeling,” she said.

Organizers said bringing that kind of experience to people is what the event is about.

“We’ve had participants who hadn’t been in the water in over 20 years because they didn’t have a way to get down and get in. So they get to get in, float, sink a little bit as well and just experience that feeling of being free in the water,” said organizer Chrissy Merrigan.

“This event is about making the beach accessible to people who traditionally can’t come down and get in the water. The goal is to share the sport of surfing with our community,” she added.

Back in 2014, the surf sessions welcomed 20 participants, that number peaked at 70 before settling on a more manageable 50.

“You just see the joy in it and as a volunteer, someone in the water with them, you’re having fun and it’s exciting and it’s an adrenaline rush and you just see how important it is for people,” says longtime volunteer, Iain Archibald.

“It was definitely a lot more intense and a lot more emotional this time knowing that it would be my last time,” said Hubbard

The event at Martinique Beach is the only one of its kind in the country.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page