Surprised and excited, I accepted the invitation to be the first ‘Point 65’ sponsored paddler. “Can I be a sponsored paddler if I can’t roll a kayak?” I asked.
“Absolutely. And would you like to kayak in Venice next weekend?”
“Would I?!” Although I have 12 years of paddling experience, I couldn’t believe anyone would consider sponsoring a weeble in a kayak. Paralysed from chest level down, I find balancing a challenge.
This adventure included a flight bound for the Bibione Kayak Gathering in northern Italy, just east of Venice; turquoise water; golden beaches; friendly kayakers; ice cream; and sunshine. I couldn’t wait.
To help with my balance in a kayak, I use a back-rest to give me extra support. It’s tricky to fit into any boat without a collection of extra foam and glue. I also use a kayak with good initial stability, to prevent me from tipping a degree too far and losing it. My own kayak is all fitted out for me, and I wasn’t sure I’d find a suitable kayak from the collection in Bibione.
A colorful arc of kayaks by the beach whets my appetite for getting on the water. I cast my eyes over the Point 65 kayaks, seeking one with a relatively stable hull shape (flatter-bottomed), and with a larger cockpit—just to make sure I’d be able to get out if I fell in. Luckily, the seat designs easily accommodated my back support, and within minutes, I was ready to join the group on the water. We glided into the sheltered lagoon, a bathwater sea, feeling buoyant with the atmosphere of Italy.
This was the first annual Bibione Kayak Gathering, based at ‘Camping Capalonga’ (www.capalonga.com), a fantastically wheelchair accessible base, with wheel-friendly cabins, sandwiched on a point of land between a laguna and the Mediterranean Sea. On one side of the camp is calm water, ideal for beginners or for refining techniques, and on the other, rolling banks of surf for the more adventurous.
The week begins with a grand event: the ‘Vogalonga’, a non-competitive, fun, 33km event exploring the alleys and corners of Venice. It is open to any form of non-motorised craft—kayaks, gondolas, rowing boats—anything goes.
The organizers of the Bibione Kayak Gathering, with Point 65, would like to encourage more disabled kayakers to join the event, and plan a particular focus on this in 2009. With its great wheelchair access, wide selection of kayaks to choose from, warm water, and the option to choose calm or more challenging conditions, it is an ideal event for either beginners or more advanced paddlers.
“Would you like to go kayaking in Venice next year?”
For more information, visit http://www.bibionekayak.com or check out some of the kayaks at www.point65.com.
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For more information about accessible international travel, see Accessible Travel in Catalonia, Spain is Improving.
Learn how you can travel and save money on lodging, in Home Exchange: Economical, Accessible Lodging Option.
