Journey of Adaptive SUP Surf in Singapore
From Pioneering Efforts to National Integration (2018 – 2025)
1. Introduction
The Adaptive SUP Surf initiative in Singapore began as a community-driven effort to bring the therapeutic and empowering experience of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and ocean sports to individuals with autism and special needs.
Long before there was a formal national programme, Pastor Andrew Choo, founder of Grace Mission SG and Project Ocean Therapy (PoT), saw the ocean as a place of healing, confidence-building, and inclusion for people often left out of mainstream sport.
2. Early Pioneering Work (2018 – 2022)
● 2018-2019: Early pilot SUP sessions for small groups of youths on the autism spectrum.
● Partnerships: Collaboration with Ola Beach Club at Siloso Beach and support from Constant Wind and SUP Ventures, which provided equipment at special rates.
● Safety & Inclusion: Development of safe entry protocols, small-group coaching, and sensory-aware approaches.
● Community Trust: Families and caregivers observed positive changes — improved confidence, reduced anxiety, and new friendships.
3. Growth and Consolidation (2023 – 2024)
● Expansion of Project Ocean Therapy under Grace Mission SG to serve more beneficiaries, including individuals with autism, special needs, and mental-health challenges.
● Development of volunteer and coach training focused on empathy, safety, and working with people with diverse abilities.
● Inclusion of simple SUP Surf skills (balance, paddling into small waves) as beneficiaries became more confident.
● Feature stories on the Grace Mission website inspired churches, schools, and donors to support inclusive ocean sports.
4. Towards National Alignment (Early 2025)
● Recognition that Singapore needed a national pathway for adaptive SUP Surf so that inclusion would be sustained beyond a single project.
● Conversations between Pastor Andrew, SAS leadership, and partners about aligning community-based efforts with the International Surfing Association (ISA) framework.
● Preparation of a transition plan to integrate PoT’s work under SAS, combining the heart of community outreach with the governance, standards, and competition pathways of the national sports body. 5. Official Appointment (October 2025)
At the Annual General Meeting of the Surf Association Singapore on 4 October 2025, Pastor Andrew Choo was appointed Chairman of the Adaptive SUP Surf Sub-Committee.
This appointment marks the formal national recognition and integration of the pioneering efforts that began with SUP for Autism.
Under Pastor Andrew’s leadership, the Sub-Committee will:
- Uphold ISA standards of safety, coaching, and competition.
- Build on the therapeutic and inclusive foundations established through Project Ocean Therapy.
- Guide Singapore’s next phase of adaptive ocean-sports development.
6. Significance of the Transition
● Continuity: Ensures that the pioneering work since 2018 is not lost but strengthened.
● Credibility: Positions Singapore to take part in regional and global ISA Adaptive Surfing events.
● Community Impact: Expands opportunities for persons with autism, special needs, and their families to experience health, joy, and dignity through ocean sports.
● Partnership Potential: Opens doors for collaboration among sports bodies, schools, social-service agencies, donors, and volunteers.
This background provides the narrative foundation for the accompanying ‘Adaptive SUP Surf Programme: 2025-2027 Strategic Action Plan’.