Dries Millard
Dries Millard is a South African adaptive surfing coach, disability sport advocate, and co-founder of the non-profit organisation Extreme Abilities, which promotes surfing and ocean access for people with disabilities. He has been described in media sources as an early contributor to adaptive surfing on South Africa’s West Coast.[1]
Early life and background
Millard was active in sport before his disability; in his youth he played rugby at Boland and South Africa junior levels.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2010, he undertook a wheelchair journey from Saldanha Bay to Cape Town to raise awareness of accessibility challenges, prior to accessible public transport systems like the MyCiTi bus.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Adaptive surfing career
Early adaptive-surf work
In December 2011, Millard organised one of the first adaptive surf-days for people with disabilities at Bloubergstrand under Extreme Abilities.[1]
From 2011 to 2014, he ran local West Coast surf-therapy programs, introducing adaptive surfing to individuals with physical disabilities.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Coast-to-coast road-show & 2015 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship
In 2015, Millard conducted a national road-show along the South African coastline, from Elands Bay to Richards Bay, visiting schools, conducting interviews, and providing surf awareness workshops.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
He represented South Africa at the inaugural ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship in 2015.[2]
Disability-sport advocacy and community engagement
Millard co-founded Extreme Abilities, initially focused on disability-oriented tourism and later expanded into adaptive surfing programs along the West Coast of South Africa.[3]
He has collaborated with NGOs, schools, and international partners to expand adaptive-surf opportunities and ocean access for people with disabilities.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Media coverage and recognition
Millard’s work has been documented by national media, surf publications, and NGO websites.[4][5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Inaugural Surfing South Africa Extreme Abilities Adaptive Surfing Day takes place at Bloubergstrand," ZigZag Magazine, 6 December 2011.
- ↑ "SA Team All Set for ISA World Adaptive Surfing Champs," ZigZag Magazine, 10 September 2015.
- ↑ Extreme Abilities — official website.
- ↑ "Second Annual Extreme Abilities Adaptive Surf Day," Waves for Change, 18 March 2013.
- ↑ "Surfer to wear green and gold," Daily Dispatch, 23 July 2015.
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