\u2018Wavemaker\u2019 Nick Hounsfield was introduced to surfing by his father in the 1970s and soon developed a passion for it. He started to see surfing as a tool for having conversations around wellbeing, which led to him founding The Wave \u2013 an inland surfing destination for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Nick\u2019s idea was to create a space where people could connect with each other, themselves, and with nature. He champions \u2018blue health\u2019 \u2013 the physical and mental health benefits of being in and around water.<\/p>\n
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The Wave opened in Bristol in 2019 using ground-breaking technology, and Nick is planning on expanding the concept across the UK.<\/p>\n
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Nick has been involved with supporting and growing the para-surfing community, and The Wave hosted the English Adaptive Surf Championships in 2020 and 2021. Nick experienced first-hand the role surfing can play in overcoming health issues when he suffered a series of strokes in February 2020. Luckily he has made a good recovery but recognises that things could have been so much worse. The experience has made him more determined than ever to create a safe, sustainable space to promote health in body and mind.<\/p>\n
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Listen as we get into the details of how Nick was inspired to create The Wave and the lessons he\u2019s learned from his own health challenges. <\/p>\n
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Nick Hounsfield discusses the importance of being in and around water to promote physical and mental health, and how this has helped to shape his own recovery<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2652,"template":"","journal-category":[89],"acf":{"embed_code_rtf":"