🚣‍♂️Sean Fitzgibbon

Outdoor Educator, Waterman, Park Ranger, Adaptive Expert, Medical Professional and Friend You Want on Every Trip

It’s tough to sum up Sean Fitzgibbon without feeling like you’re leaving something incredible out. I’ve paddled thousands of miles with him, co-taught wilderness survival and cooking courses, watched him comfort nervous students at a boat launch, and seen him crack a joke mid-hurricane while repairing someone’s broken foot brace with duct tape and calm assurance.

He’s a one-legged wave-rider turned expedition kayaker, a medical professional who walks the walk, a certified prosthetics fitter, and now—a Pinellas County Park Ranger, leading nature walks, paddling clinics, and backcountry survival sessions on Florida’s wildest edges.

If that sounds like a lot… that’s because it is. And Sean carries it all with grit, humility, and humor.

Coaching Philosophy & Teaching Impact

As owner and lead coach at Liquid Rhythm Kayaking, Sean blends his medical knowledge with technical outdoor skills. He believes in “Challenge by Ability”—designing personalized instruction that empowers individuals to push past limits safely. His background as a safety specialist, orthotics expert, and adaptive athlete gives him a unique perspective on coaching:

• Beginners benefit from his patient, skill-building approach.
• Experienced instructors gain advanced techniques and adaptability skills, including handicap-aware coaching methods.
• His holistic philosophy—rooted in confidence-building, safety, and community—encourages students to see the outdoor world not as a place of limits, but of possibility.

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🌊 From Surfboard to Sit-On-Top

Sean’s outdoor story starts where so many good ones do: on the water. Born with a congenital limb difference, he lost his right leg below the knee at age three. He didn’t sit still for long.

He raced BMX, chased waves from California to the Outer Banks, and became a 4-time national surfing champion, competing in the ESA and NSSA and earning the Buddy Pelletier Surfer of the Year Award. Somewhere around 1999, when the Gulf went flat and the swells stopped calling, Sean picked up a paddle to stay fit.

That hobby quickly became obsession. By 2001, we were planning overnight trips for Osprey Bay Outdoors, teaching each other fieldcraft, and slowly building what would become Liquid Rhythm Kayaking.

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💪 Born for the Water, Built for the Wild

Now, as a licensed orthotic fitter, certified pedorthist, Park Ranger, expedition kayaker, and outdoor skills coach, Sean combines decades of personal challenge with professional expertise to help others confidently explore the outdoors—no matter their experience or ability.

Sean Fitzgibbon was born with a congenital limb difference that led to the amputation of his right leg below the knee at just three years old. That never slowed him down. From fishing trips with his dad across the Southeast to becoming a four-time national surfing champion, Sean has always lived life on the water—and on his own terms.

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🛶 Expedition-Tested

Sean isn’t someone who teaches theory—he teaches what he’s done, and keeps doing.

Pioneering Outdoor Expeditions

A fearless adventurer, Sean has completed extensive wilderness expeditions in sea kayaking—undaunted by his prosthetic limb. Highlighting his grit, in 2011 he completed a grueling 200-mile kayak journey, showcasing exceptional physical endurance and technical paddling skills . This feat not only demonstrated his resilience but also reinforced his passion for teaching adaptive kayaking techniques to beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

Surfing Champion & Outdoor Enthusiast

Sean’s athleticism extended into competitive adaptive surfing. In 1999, as a 25‑year‑old amputee, he won first place in the Open Prosthetic Division at the U.S. Amateur Surfing Championships in Oceanside, California—his third consecutive year finishing in the top ten tampabay.com+4tampabay.com+4youtube.com+4. His prowess continued as a four-time national champion surfer, mountain biker, retired soccer coach, and Florida survival guide

He’s:

• Crossed the Molokai Channel
• Circumnavigated Pinellas County
• Kayaked the Florida Keys from end to end
• Logged 200+ miles on a single expedition (yes, that trip—you’ve seen the HuffPost article)
• Led 100-mile youth river expeditions on the Suwannee
• Completed multi-day coastal paddles across Georgia and South Carolina

All while adapting gear, innovating safety systems, and teaching others to push their own boundaries—safely.

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🏥 Adaptive Skills & Medical Know-How

Sean doesn’t just get people outside—he makes it possible for people with different bodies, experiences, and anxieties to succeed there. By age 31, Sean had earned dual certifications as a licensed orthotic fitter and certified pedorthist, serving clients through St. Petersburg Limb & Brace tampabay.com. Specializing in biomechanical corrections—ranging from splints and braces to shoe modifications—Sean dedicated himself to improving mobility and quality of life, particularly for individuals with foot pain, deformities, and diabetes.

He’s a:

• Licensed Orthotic Fitter
• Certified Pedorthist
• Expert in wound prevention, contracture management, and emergency limb support
• Provider of First Aid, CPR, AED, and more

In short: if you fall, get a hot spot, or your boot fails mid-campsite, you want Sean nearby. If you’re an adaptive athlete? Even better—he’ll teach you techniques that go way beyond accommodation and straight into empowerment.

He worked at St. Petersburg Limb & Brace, As an Orthotists and prosthetists designer, Sean fitted, and adapted medical devices like braces and artificial limbs for patients with disabling conditions. He assessed patient needs, took measurements, and created custom devices to improve mobility and functionality. specializing to help kids, veterans, and aging adults regain independence through thoughtful orthotic design.

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🌿 Park Ranger Life: 2024 and Beyond

In 2024, Sean Fitzgibbon began serving as a Park Ranger in Pinellas County, Florida, expanding his mission of outdoor education and conservation. In his Instagram posts, Sean showcases ranger-led nature walks, wildlife studies, and environmental stewardship programs—bringing both beginners and advanced outdoor enthusiasts closer to the natural world.

That means today, you can find him:

• Teaching night navigation by lantern light
• Showing kids how to spot alligator slides and gopher tortoise mounds
• Running kayak safety clinics at Weedon Island and Fort De Soto
• Leading bushcraft workshops, fire-starting demos, and field cooking tutorials

His work now blends wilderness education with conservation storytelling—using the parks as both classroom and cathedral. Learn with a Park Ranger who seamlessly blends medical insight, paddling expertise, and ecological education:

• Attend ranger-led kayak clinics, wildlife hikes, or conservation workshops at Pinellas County parks
• Enhance your outdoor skillset while supporting ecological awareness and safety

Follow along on Instagram:

• @sean.fitzgibbon.129 for daily life and ranger work, recent photos highlight:
  • Leading interpretive hikes and pointing out native flora and fauna, helping newcomers feel at ease in the wilderness
  • Conducting canoe and kayak safety demos at local parks, emphasizing his “Challenge by Ability” philosophy
  • Participating in community clean-ups and habitat restoration events, showcasing his role as both educator and environmental steward
• @solid_ground_sb for teaching tools, gear hacks, and bush craft behind-the-scenes view of:
  • Hands-on survival-skill sessions—building shelters, firecraft, and wilderness preparedness
  • Collaborative workshops combining emergency medical training with outdoor skills, bridging his medical and ranger backgrounds

This synergy of roles—Park Ranger, outdoor instructor, medical professional—underscores Sean’s commitment to conservation, community engagement, and inclusive teaching.

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🧭 A Teacher’s Teacher

Sean and I built Liquid Rhythm not just for athletes—but for students. The nervous beginner in sneakers, the Cub Scout learning to brace in surf, the off-grid overlander who needs to cook over twigs with a Trangia pot and zero fuel. Sean teaches each one with clarity and patience.

He regularly teaches and presents at:

• 💡 Osprey Bay Outdoors clinics (navigation, fire, water safety)
• 🚣 WYLD Camp and Rewyld Outdoors (inclusive Facebook youth trips)
• 🌊 Sweetwater Paddle Festival, Calusa Blueway, Sol y Luna, and the Charleston Paddlesports Festival

Why Choose Sean Fitzgibbon’s Outdoor Classes?

• Inclusive & Adaptive: Sean specializes in creating welcoming environments for all—ensuring adaptive access and inclusive coaching.
• Expertise in Biomechanics: His orthotic and pedorthic experience enhances safety and performance in paddling, surfing, and beyond.
• Proven Resilience: A testament to overcoming challenges, his personal achievements make him a living role model.
• Skill Level Agnostic: Whether you’ve never paddled or are instructing others, Sean delivers growth, expertise, and confidence.

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💬 The Sean Philosophy: “Challenge by Ability”

Whether you’re paddling with one leg, bad knees, two left feet, or a head full of anxiety—Sean meets you where you are. He builds your skills with:

• Custom instruction
• Calm troubleshooting
• Medical foresight
• Humor that actually lands (except the pun about “getting a leg up” … that one’s his favorite)

His mission? To help you become capable, calm, and resilient in the wild.

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📍 Why Learn from Sean?

Join Sean Fitzgibbon at Liquid Rhythm Kayaking and:

• Discover kayaking, surfing, and outdoor adventure—confidently.
• Learn instructor-level techniques with a focus on adaptability and safety.
• Meet a coach who embodies perseverance and passion—and inspires every class.

Take your first stroke, catch your first wave, or refine your instructor skillset with an expert whose life is proof that outdoor adventure has no limits.

✅ Expedition-tested, real-world kayaker
✅ Adaptive-friendly and medically trained
✅ Park Ranger with local ecological expertise
✅ Engaging, empathetic, and wickedly funny
✅ Fully committed to your growth

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🚀 Ready to Learn from Sean?

📆 Join a class or trip
📸 Follow Sean’s outdoor Instagram journey @sean.fitzgibbon.129 and @solid_ground_sb
📚 Read more stories at FloridaOATS.wordpress.com

Come paddle with us. Learn something useful. Laugh a little. And leave the trip changed.

In the news

•  St. Petersburg man says flesh eating disease almost killed him, but he survived to guide others, By: Linda Hurtado, abc Action News, On air Oct, 31, 2012
• Disability Doesn’t Faze Kayak King, By STEPHEN THOMPSON, The Tampa Tribune, Published: May 12, 2008
• Kayak Journey Around Keys Is To Turn Tide For Disabled,  By STEPHEN THOMPSON, The Tampa Tribune,  Published: May 6, 2008
• Ripple Effect by Brian Kelly
• Amputee Kayakers Raise Funds for Extremity Games, May 17, 2007, http://www.oandp.com