SIX RIDERS ON THE WATER WITH NECI
Our first SitWake session in partnership with Neci — six young participants with mental disabilities experienced the water for the first time on an adaptive board. A milestone for inclusive water sports in Lagos.
On 8 May 2026, Wake Park Lagos hosted its first SitWake session in partnership with Neci — a local association supporting people with mental disabilities. Six participants came to the lake, some for the first time in their lives near open water. It was a morning that reminded us exactly why we started this programme.
The session was carefully designed as an introduction — not a rush to get everyone on the cable. Before anything else, the goal was simply to get the participants comfortable with the water. Each rider was introduced to the lake at their own pace, with our coaches in the water alongside them throughout.
“The first step was putting them on a large board with a seat — calm, supported, no pressure. Just the feeling of being on the water.”
The large adaptive board and seat system is a critical first step for this group. Unlike the standard SitWake open days — which are designed for participants with physical disabilities who are already comfortable around water — this session required a gentler approach. Mental disabilities can make unfamiliar sensory environments overwhelming, so we took the time to let each participant find their own comfort before progressing.
All six participants completed the session on the board, fully supported in the water by coaches throughout. The energy by the end of the morning was something special — the kind that is difficult to put into words but easy to see in the photos below.
This session was made possible through the invitation of Neci and the ongoing support of the Câmara de Lagos, who funded the sit-wake equipment. Behind all of it is Prancha da Água — our association, and the reason we are able to create these partnerships and bring sessions like this to life. Without Prancha da Água’s framework, working with associations like Neci would simply not be possible.
This is the first of several planned sessions with Neci and Santo Amaro this season. We are committed to making SitWake as inclusive as possible — not only for people with physical disabilities on our open days, but for people of all abilities who could benefit from time on the water.
PRANCHA DA ÁGUA & PARTNERS
Sessions like this exist because of the collaboration between organisations who share a belief that water sports should be for everyone. Prancha da Água is our association — the backbone that allows Wake Park Lagos to build partnerships with disability associations across the region and run programmes like SitWake. Without this framework, none of it would be possible.
The association through which Wake Park Lagos operates SitWake. Prancha da Água makes it possible to formally partner with disability associations and run funded, structured adaptive sessions.
A local association dedicated to supporting people with mental disabilities. Neci brought six of their participants to the lake and supported them throughout the session alongside our coaches.
The Câmara de Lagos funded the purchase of the sit-wake equipment that makes these sessions possible. Their institutional belief in this project is the reason it exists at the scale it does.
JOIN THE NEXT OPEN DAY
Our public SitWake open days are for people with physical disabilities. All abilities welcome — no experience needed. Places are limited to 3–4 riders per session.