Wes Hall
Co-Founder & Chief Engagement Officer

Born and raised in North Carolina, Wes was just 15 years old when he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, leading to the amputation of his entire right leg (hip disarticulation).

This is when his adapted sports adventures began, as he had a supportive group of friends that helped him push the limits of what was possible.

During his high school years, he learned to bodyboard, surf, sail, hydroboard, snow ski, and swim at John T Hoggard High School.  Soon after, Wes trained to become a lifeguard and eventually became a certified American Red Cross lifeguard as well as a YMCA Lifeguard Instructor Trainer.  In 1990, he started coaching swim team at the YWCA in Wilmington and then with the YMCA of the Triangle Area.  He graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in biology. After UNC, he started working full-time at the Taylor YMCA as Aquatic Coordinator, which is where he started the kayaking program to serve youth in the YMCA summer day camp programs.

He has received the British Canoe Union 3 Star Award, Rescue Award, and Level 2 Instructor.  He also received the American Canoe Association’s L2 Instructor and Adapted Paddle Endorsements.

In 2012 Wes started training for K1 kayak sprint for the Rio Paralympics and started volunteering developing an adapted paddle program for Bridge II Sports, which led to him being Director of Programs for Bridge II Sports from 2018 to March 2022, overseeing eight adapted programs.

Wes has a passion for getting people with a physical disability involved in sports to lead an active lifestyle. He wants to create a more inclusive and equitable world for adapted athletes.