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 WERE BUSY AWAY FROM THE CABIN. 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 PUT IN MOTION A TRAINING AND SUPPORT PACKAGE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF EL SALVADOR OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE AND SPONSORS COLGAN FOUNDATION AND AIR SUPPORT GROUP... I'M A ISA SURFER AND NOW FIS PARA NORDIC SIT SKI RACER FROM EL SALVADOR... I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO BE AS GOOD AS GUYS LIKE BRUNO HANSON IN SURF AND DAN CNOSSEN IN SKIING - BUT, DREAMING ABOUT REPRESENTING MY COUNTRY AT THE PARALYMPICS HAS GIVEN ME A STRENGTH SO POWERFUL THAT I WAKE UP EVERYDAY HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. THANKS ISA FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO SURF IN CALIFORNIA AGAIN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY REPRESENT MY BELOVED COUNTRY...

I'm just lucky to be alive and after years of trying my hand at El Salvador Paralympic Basketball and Track and Field, I've finally found two sports that I love - Surfing and Rock Climbing. 

Thanks to ONETEAM El Salvador and the Colgan Foundation Para Surf Training Center, Johnny and I have a worldclass facility to train at with coach Robi Powers. 

I just learned to swim and surf this year, so I'm behind Johnny in development, but he's behind me in Rock Climbing jajajaja 

Both Johnny and i owe the Powers and Colgan Families so much along with guys like Bruno Hansen and Dana Cummings who have come to our training center in Surf City to help us get better. 

Thanks to ISA Staff and AMP Surf Staff for allowing us to represent our country in El Salvador's newest Para Sport as members of the countries Para National Surf Team.