BORP News and Resources | June 2025 | | |
Image: BORP logo in blue and orange, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation. | | BORP Adaptive Cycling Rolls into San Jose | | |
We’re excited to announce the launch of BORP’s brand-new adaptive cycling hub in San Jose! The Program officially kicked off last Sunday and we'll be riding every Sunday through October out of Good Karma Bikes, offering weekly adaptive cycling sessions for riders of all experience levels. And of course our San Francisco program out of Golden Gate Park is back as well: see below for more info.
This expansion brings long-overdue access to the South Bay, with a fleet of adaptive bikes and trained staff ready to support new and experienced riders.
Even beyond our bustling cycling program and a successful Rev, this spring has been full of momentum across BORP! Our rugby team brought home a national championship, our newly formed women’s goalball team competed in their very first tournament, and we hosted our first-ever Adaptive Sports Mini Fair in San Francisco. Scroll down to see what else we’ve been up to.
| | Image: A photo of two people under a canopy with a BORP banner on the table and adaptive cycles in front of them. The second photo features five people on adaptive cycles holding their arms out wide and posing for camera | | BORP High Fives Win Wheelchair Rugby Nationals | | |
California’s only wheelchair rugby team just became the best in the nation. The BORP High Fives captured 1st place at the Division II National Championships in Tampa, capping off three seasons of extraordinary progress. From 2nd Place in Division III in 2023 to 3rd Place in Division II in 2024 to National Champions in 2025, the team's hard work paid off big team. Entering Nationals as underdogs with a low seed, our players brought the energy and strategy to help all the pieces come together.
Read more about their dominate weekend on our website.
| | Image 1: Photo of the 4 members of the rugby team and the team manager. All are wearing gold medals and one player holds the championship tropy. | | BORP's New Women's Goalball Team Off to a Strong Start | | |
Congratulations to our new women’s Goalball team, the BORP Renegades, on placing 4th in their Austin, TX tournament in May! This was their first tournament together, having formed the team only 6 weeks prior.
The Renegades are made up of players of all experience levels, brought together by their love of the game. We look forward to watching them grow and wish them luck in the tournaments to come!
| | Image 1: Photo of Four members of the BORP Renegades women’s goalball team smile in front of the goal, wearing navy and orange jerseys with their numbers visible: 9, 12, 7, and 15. They wear black eye shades and stand in front of a gym wall stacked with rolled mats. Image 2: Photo of Monica, wearing jersey number 15, winds up to throw the goalball, pulling it high behind her with one arm extended. Two other players in the background wait crouched for the return ball. | | |
First San Francisco Adaptive Sports Fair a Big Success
On May 31, BORP held its first-ever Adaptive Sports Fair in SF! 50+ attendees came to try wheelchair basketball, adaptive pickleball, and cycling at Glen Park Rec Center. Many participants were brand new to adaptive sports and are excited to return to our recurring programming. Huge thanks to Sutter Health CPMC Rehab and SF Recs & Park for helping us make this event a reality!
| Images: Four shots from the SF Adaptive Sports Fair. Two individuals ride a side by Side Bike together. A BORP employee smiles behind a BORP table. A player sitting in a wheelchair works on bouncing a pickleball while the coach looks on. A group of players in sports chairs put their hands in for a cheer and smile. | |
Summer Cycling in SF and SJ Kicking Off: Come Ride With Us!
San Francisco
When: Every Saturday
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Where: Behind the Bandshell, Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park
San Jose
When: Every Sunday
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Where: Good Karma Bikes, 82 S Montgomery St
Both Programs are OPEN and will run weekly from June to October. Programs are first-come, first-served so make sure your membership with BORP is active(email in...@borp.org for a special SF/SJ cycling scholarship code thanks to support from MTC) and then come on down!
Huge thanks to our partners: MTC, SF Recs & Park, and Good Karma Bikes!
| | Image: Photo of two riders on a side-by-side bike, one is a child around 8-10 and the other is an adult. They both smile at the camera and a BORP flag and foliage can be seen in the background. | |
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June Spinal Cord Injury Meet Up
When: Wednesday, June 18, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley
Join us June 18 for a conversation with the Fountain Project Health and Wellness Center about holistic care—what it is, how it works, and how it can support you. Whether you’re a regular or just curious, come share your questions, concerns, and experiences around services like acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care.
Please pre-register for food orders! Light dinner provided free of charge thanks to our sponsor HR HEALTHCARE. This is an in person event. For more information: email cyn...@borp.org
| Image: a watercolor style poster of a light purple mountain with a green foreground that has a path through it of un-painted paster from the lower left corner into the center and up toward the mountain int he far distance. Thea heading reads: "Fountain Project." | |
Join Us for BORP’s First-Ever Kayak Open House!
When: Saturday June 21st
When: Drop-in anytime from 10-12:45
Where: BORP Cycle & Kayak Center,
80 Bolivar Drive
Curious about adaptive kayaking? This is your chance to check out our program, meet the team, and—if you’re ready—take a short paddle around the lagoon. Most new participants will be able to complete their intake and fit appointment in one visit and get on the water the same day!
We’re prioritizing new paddlers for this event—if you’ve paddled with us before, we’d love for you to bring a friend who hasn’t.
Drop-ins welcome, pre-registration encouraged.
| Image 1: Two kayakers sit on a boat on the land, with paddles in hand, ready to get out on the water. | |
Thank you to the Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Fund for supporting BORP Kayaking! Their support will help us launch environmental kayak trips and highlight local Bay Area kayak spots—stay tuned!
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Upcoming Crab Cove Outing
When: Saturday, June 14, 11 – 2
Where: Doug Siden Visitor Center, Crab Cove
What: Explore the park with hands-on crafts, animal encounters, and guided tours for all ages and abilities.
New this year: BORP and Nature Track will offer Freedom Trax devices so participants with mobility or vision disabilities can independently explore the beach. Device time slots at 11 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM. Free and open to all!
| | Image: Photo of 7 people using Freedom Tracks chairs on the beach. | | |
BORP Brings Adaptive Sports to Schools in Spring 2025
This spring, BORP has brought adaptive sports to schools and programs across the Bay Area—reaching hundreds of students with hands-on demos, interactive games, and real-world disability inclusion lessons
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At Redwood Day and Antioch Charter, BORP staff and volunteers presented to students in grades K-5, highlighting how empowering and exciting it is to play sports from a wheelchair, and discussed the importance of adaptive sports in building confidence and inclusion for people with disabilities. The students then had chance to jump into sports wheelchairs and played games like “Sharks and Minnows,” while receiving guidance and coaching.
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At Dougherty Valley High, our team played an exhibition wheelchair basketball game alongside the Wheelchair Foundation, filling the gym and raising funds for adaptive programs.
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On May 6th we introduced Power Soccer to several Oakland youth who regularly attend our weekly fitness class. Coach Margo and Ruby leading an exciting class for beginners in power chairs, cleverly using milk carts as adaptations
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At Piedmont Middle School, 600+ students attended an engaging assembly and scrimmage with a chance to watch and play!
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Accessible Outdoor Theater for Kids - June 7-8 & 14-15
Join Alice for a whimsical, wheelchair-accessible adventure through Piedmont Park in Alice In Wander Land—a playful outdoor show with music, puppets, and comedy for kids ages 4–8. Visit this website for access details or email in...@pineconesandportals.com
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Keep Vasona Lake Accessible
Did you know there’s an accessible kayak dock at Vasona Lake in Los Gatos? Despite a $1M investment by Santa Clara County, it’s been underused—leading to reduced hours. Help spread the word and keep this resource available! [Flyer & Info or book a kayak here]
Thanks to NORCal SCI for getting the word out!
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BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our mission is to empower youth and adults with mobility and vision disabilities through sports, fitness, and recreational programs that foster independence, health, community, and belonging. www.borp.org
| | Image 1: BORP logo in blue and orange, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation. Image 2: Facebook logo. Image 3: Instagram logo. Image 4: YouTube logo. | | | | |
