WHEN I WAS 13 THE GANGS KIDNAPPED ME ONE DAY AND TRIED TO RECRUIT ME INTO BARRIOS 18 ( STREET 18 GANG )... MY MOM FOUND OUT WHERE I HAD BEEN TAKEN AND STORMED INTO THE HOUSE AND RESCUED ME WHILE THE KIDNAPPERS WEREN'T LOOKING.

AFTER THAT THE GANG ISSUED A KILL ORDER AND ONE AFTERNOON A MONTH LATER WERE NEARLY SUCCESSFUL... THEY SHOT ME THROUGH THE SPINE PUTTING ME IN A WHEEL CHAIR AFTER 45 HRS OF LIFE SAVING WORK BY THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL DOCTORS AND NURSES.

AFTER 2 YEARS OF THERAPY I WAS ABLE TO USE MY ARMS AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN MOVING FORWARD WITH WHEELS.

IN JULY OF 2021, ROB POWERS, THE PRESIDENT OF ONETEAM EL SALVADOR STOPPED IN FRONT OF MY SHAVED ICE STAND AND TOLD ME HIS NONPROFIT WAS BUILDING A TRAINING CENTER JUST DOWN THE ROAD.

THE REST IS HISTORY, ROB,  HIS WIFE DOCTOR LAILA, SON COACH ROBI AND THEIR NGO DIRECTOR PAUL RAMIREZ PUT IN MOTION A TRAINING AND SUPPORT PACKAGE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF EL SALVADOR PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE AND SPONSORS COLGAN FOUNDATION AND AIR SUPPORT GROUP... I'M A ISA SURFER FROM EL SALVADOR... STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO BE AS GOOD AS GUYS LIKE OTTER BAILEY ( WHO HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE ISA STAFF IN GETTING MY PROGRAM OFF THE BEACH AND INTO THE WATER! 

THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO SURF IN CALIFORNIA AND MOST IMPORTANTLY REPRESENT MY BELOVED COUNTRY... THAT IS GETTING BETTER EVERYDAY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT NAYIB BUKELE AND TEAM. 

YEEEEEWWWWWWWW