Forbes- “This Hawaiian Resort Is The First To Offer Adaptive Surf Lessons For Guests”
Travel & Leisure- “This Iconic Hawaiian Resort Is Now Offering Adaptive Surf Lessons From a 5-time Para Champ”
The Inertia- “Jamie O’Brien Teams Up With World Champion to Offer Adaptive Surf Lessons”
After a snowboarding accident left Victoria partially paralyzed, she returned to snow, skate and surf despite becoming a wheelchair user. Undeterred, this Canadian girl trained hard to be a clinical physiotherapist in addition to an elite level para surfer on the world tour.
Victoria has won five consecutive ISA Para Surfing World Championships and two Adaptive ASP World Titles. She is looking to progress her own surfing as well as push the sport toward LA 2028 Paralympic inclusion. In 2024, she co- founded adaptive surf lessons with the JOB Surf Experience at Turtle Bay, Oahu Hawaii.
“Hi, I’m Victoria. an adaptive surfer, sit-skier, physio and wheelie-popping baddie. I’m a
kneeboarder who moved from Canada to Oahu for surfing. I have a candy pink custom
surfboard that I’ve named ‘the Barbie Board, and I recently got a new sky blue custom
surfboard that I’ve named ‘Just Ken’
I first heard about AccesSurf when I met Cara Short on the beach at the 2016 ISA Para Surf
competition in California… she invited me to compete in the next AccesSurf HASC contest. In
truth, I was too new and too shy to really talk to many folks at my first ISA, but Cara was so
warm, friendly and genuine that I actually did travel to the next AccesSurf HASC in Waikiki.
My favourite AccesSurf memory is my first HASC in 2017 because that’s where I really got to
know the adaptive surf community. I knew I found my people. It was the most fun contest I’ve
ever had : ) Pure Aloha, Pure love of surfing. It was a dream to be surfing iconic breaks with the
warm water and the beauty of Hawaii with all these gnarly adaptive surfers who shared my
sense of humour. Plus I got to meet Carissa Moore for moment
For me, AccesSurf is Ohana and it includes people from all over the world, both abled-bodied
and adaptive surfers, who share the belief in an Ocean of Possibilities. People who are creating
a better, more inclusive future.
I’m trying to do my part as well to fill the gap for visitors or locals who can’t make the AccesSurf
events or who want private instruction. I’m so excited to offer specialized adaptive surf lessons
with the Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience at Turtle Bay. I became a physiotherapist, adaptive ski
instructor, and now adaptive surf instructor because I wanted to pay it forward. When you see
a person surfing independently after a serious accident and teaching other people with a
disability to surf, it just hits different.
After sustaining my spinal cord injury, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to really surf again. When I saw
para surfing with my own eyes, it changed my perspective about what I thought possible for
adaptive surfing and what I thought possible for myself. I want to help others experience the
thrill and beauty of surfing in Hawaii.
Turtle Bay is a perfect location for an adaptive surf experience with instructors with expert
knowledge, accessible facilities, specialized equipment, and gentle, uncrowded, tropical surf
breaks with spectacular beauty.”
