4 years ago, I rode my first wave and it was honestly a life changing moment. In that moment I felt like I was no longer in my body anymore; I was flying and totally free. I was born with Cerebral Palsy which is a neurological disorder that affects fine motor skills. Once I am in the water, I am able to leave my wheelchair on the shore and fully immerse myself in the beauty and power of the ocean. Whether it is one foot or six feet, surfing never loses its magic. I met Cliff the second time I had ever surfed. He towed me into waves driving the jetski, each time I wiped out but would come up with a huge smile on my face. Cliff probably thought I was nuts. He probably still does. Ever since then he has become like part of my family and my number one fan. He always tells me, “you’re world famous.” To this day, he always makes sure I do not miss out when the waves are firing, whether it is he who goes out with me or my other friends at Skudin Surf. What makes surfing so special is once I’m in the water I’m dealing with the same conditions as everyone else. I want to show everyone that I can get the best wave out there and see their reactions. Surfing has become my escape from whatever struggles may come my way. It has given me life-long friendships with people who mean the world to me and a platform to show the world, despite perceived limitations, anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Surf4All gives people of all walks of life the opportunity to experience the same joy I feel every time I surf. I feel it is my responsibility to pass the Stoke on to others. I am always trying to get new people in the water and it is awesome to see the smiles on participants’ faces at Surf For All outings.Lastly I would like to thank everyone who made this incredible honor a possibility, especially Harvey Weisenberg, the Long Beach International Film Festival, SVS Jewelry, LPZ Media , everyone down at Skudin Surf, my family and friends. None of this would be possible without you.
-Samurai