About Us:

Sophia was raised in southern California where her passion and love for the ocean began. She started junior lifeguards at a young age, this program taught her how to become water savvy and instantly navigated her into surfing. As a child and still today she prefers to spend her days at the beach swimming, running, surfing, and paddling. She has several years of experience in the ocean and competed professionally in surf-lifesaving and surfing. Her surf therapy career started at 14 years old when a good friend invited her to an A Walk On Water event in Huntington Beach. Being apart of this one event altered her view on surfing and it was a life changing experience. From there her love for working with neurodivergent indivuals started and she began to work with more organizations. She saw the incredible effects of surf therapy and how healing our oceans are for everyone. She has now been been teaching private lessons in her local area, up and down the coast of California, throughout Mexico and dreams of doing it world wide.

• Years of volunteering: 6 years
• Surfing since: 2014
• Certifications: CPR/AED/WSI/FIRST AID

Kalina is a surfer and water enthusiast from Kauai, Hawaii. Her deep passion for the ocean stems from it's profound healing effects on the mind, body, and soul. She is very passionate about sharing the joy's of surfing, as she has recognized it's therapeutic benefits. Kalina is very skillful in the ocean, with 15 years of surfing,  7 years of professional surfing,  4 years of junior lifeguards, as well as a deep sea diver, she has gained a strong knowledge for the ocean. She has volunteered and worked alongside organizations such as Bethany Retreats, KORE, Thera surf, and surfers healing. Eager to spread her joy for the waves, Kalina is excited to dive into the water and share her stoke with those around her. 

• Years of volunteering: 6 years
• Surfing since: 2006
• Certifications: CPR/ First Aid/ Ocean safety 

Lucas has been born and bred in the ocean. He was raised on the island of Kauai, surfing, fishing, free diving, outrigger canoe paddling, you name it. Everything involving the ocean. Lucas first experienced a surf therapy event in 2021, during a surf contest in Mexico. Seeing this first hand completely changed his perspective on surfing. Before this he viewed surfing as his personal escape, chasing incredible waves all over the world. It was his way of escaping reality, the pressures of the world, and with the "norms" of society. After seeing what surf therapy could do for individuals with disabilities, Lucas realized how he could share his experiences with those who needed it the most. How he could share that mentality of letting go of everything going on in your life and just enjoy the moment in front of you.  It brings him so much joy to see the happiness that surfing brings to others and now he strives to share surf therapy with as many people as he can, to change as many lives as possible.

• Years of volunteering: 2
• Surfing since: 2003
• Certifications: CPR/AED/WSI/FIRST AID ARC LIFEGUARD 1

Kierra has been surfing since she was eight years old. Born in the Bay Area, she commuted to Santa Cruz every weekend to foster her love of surfing. Her family moved to Los Angeles in 2014, when she began to surf competitively for Western Surfing Association and SouthBay board riders, NSSA, and several other surf leagues. During her senior year of high school, she was nominated as surf team captain! She encouraged her teammates and especially the other young women on the team to be fearless and confident in the water. In her free time, Kierra worked at local surf camps and volunteered for several surf therapy events throughout the years. Currently, Kierra is attending San Diego State University and plans to develop her career around surfing, as it brings fulfillment to so many peoples lives. 

Years of volunteering: 4 

Surfing since: 2011