Miss O'Keefe (19), of Queenstown, has spina bifida. She paddled around St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool during the inaugural Flight Centre Foundation Halberg Surf Programme in Dunedin.
The programme was shifted from St Clair beach to the pool because of the cold sea temperature.
It was her first time on a surfboard and she would have preferred to have been riding a wave.
''It's pretty good but I want to be out there,'' she said pointing at the surf, ''but it's still pretty cool.''
She would attend the programme next year if it was run again here.
Miss O'Keefe attended the Halberg Outward Bound Activate Physical Disability Course for eight days last month in the Marlborough Sounds.
The course was designed specifically for physically disabled young people, aged between 16 and 21 and includes early morning wake up calls, sailing and a high rope course.
''It was amazing, so good.''
Halberg Otago Disability Sport adviser Bridget Meyer said about 10 people with physical disabilities, aged between 7 and 19, attended the programme yesterday.
''A day at the beach and swimming _ it's what Kiwi kids do, so if we can make it accessible then more kids are going to be able to participate.''
The programme was the southernmost in a national series _ the other four programmes held in Canterbury, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Northland.
''It's neat they've chosen Dunedin to do it,'' Ms Meyer said.
She expected the programme would return next year but would probably be held at Warrington Beach because the beach was a more ''user friendly'' beach than St Clair beach.
