Let’s rewind to last Friday when the “Surf for Impact” event hit the shores of sunny San Diego! Organized by Voit Real Estate Services and Alkaline Advisors, this awesome gathering brought together surfboards, salty vibes, and a lot of love—all to support the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). The goal? To help adaptive surfers by hooking them up with gear and mentorship, they need to ride those waves with confidence.

For 30 years, CAF has been all about making sports accessible to athletes with physical disabilities. They’ve raised over $178 million, funding more than 48,000 requests across all 50 states and 70 countries, supporting adaptive athletes in over 105 sports. But last week, it was all about surfing, and by all means, the event was a total hit. But how?

According to Fox 5, the Surf for Impact competition was an awesome success, with nearly 50 surfers hitting the waves and raising around $40,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Among the surfers making a splash was Sarah Bettencourt, a retired captain from the U.S. Marine Corps and the reigning World Champion in the women’s Para Surf Prone 1 Division. For her, this event was more than just catching waves; it was about rediscovering her passion for life.

Sarah’s journey to the surf wasn’t easy. She was once flying high as a helicopter pilot until she noticed her left arm acting up during flights. After an MRI revealed lesions on her brain, she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that could threaten her motor skills and even cause permanent brain damage. Forced to medically retire from the military, she felt lost and unsure of what to do next. Then, out of the blue, she got a phone call that would change everything.

“After being in this terrible place for a long time, I got a phone call – next thing I know, I met the CAF,” Bettencourt recalled. The foundation introduced her to surfing, giving her specially designed boards that made it easier for her to ride the waves. With so many fellow surfers supporting her, she felt a wave of excitement wash over her.

“There were so many surfers out in the water supporting me and helping me, and all of a sudden I was like ‘Holy cow, I’m doing this!’” Thanks to CAF, Sarah not only got back in the water but also reignited her love for life, learning to adapt both her gear and her mindset to embrace her new reality. But CAF isn’t the only organization working towards adaptive surfing!

Surfing beyond disabilities

You heard it right! There’s a whole bunch of organizations out there dedicated to making adaptive surfing a reality for everyone. The International Surfing Association (ISA) has been at it since 2015, shining a spotlight on champions with physical challenges in different divisions and categories. It’s pretty cool to see so many non-profits pop up, all aimed at helping folks with disabilities ride the waves. One standout group is Access Surf, and they’ve really made a difference for many surfers, including Jon Price.

Jon Price can’t forget that wild day when he rode what he thought was going to be an awesome wave. As he dropped down the wave’s face, the nose of his boogie board sank too deep, sending him flipping headfirst into the sandy ocean floor at Makapuu Beach. He tried to brace himself, but it ended up breaking his neck. “I woke up in Queen’s hospital two days later, completely paralyzed on a ventilator,” he remembered. “My first thoughts were, how do I commit su—de when I can’t move a muscle? It was pretty bleak.” But fast forward to last month, and Jon found himself back on the beach, looking for waves at Kualakai, aka White Plains Beach, during a “Day at the Beach” event hosted by AccesSurf.

This non-profit runs assisted surfing and swimming activities on the first Saturday of every month, making waves since 2006. Cara Short, the executive director, shared that they held 94 events last year, helping nearly 500 participants get in on the fun. Thanks to grants, sponsorships, and donations, they keep these events free for everyone. Plus, they’re all about making sure adaptive surf gear is available, even though it can be a bit pricier—15% to 20% more than standard equipment. With organizations like AccesSurf and the passionate surfers from the Surf for Impact competition joining forces, nothing’s stopping anyone from catching those waves!