Captain Sarah Bettencourt (USMC, Retired) was training as a helicopter pilot when a rare neurological disorder forced her to medically retire in 2012. With her constantly changing and sometimes very serious symptoms, Sarah struggled to find her place back in society until she was introduced to adaptive sports, where Sarah realized by adapting equipment and technique, she could accomplish anything! Since then, Sarah has founded San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey, is a 3 time world champion and Team Leader with the US Women’s Sled Hockey Team, is on the US Para Surf Team, and is a 3 time world champion in the Women’s Para Surf Prone 1 division. Sarah lives a full and happy life with her husband and 2 sons, serving others through adaptive sports and representing her nation in sled hockey and para surfing.

Colin Cook Bionic Surfer Trying to live more on 1 leg than I did with 2.  

Triple amputee Army veteran that survive a 60 lbs I.E.D. i was told i would be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of my life now im showing the world how to truly live and thrive no matter the circumstances. 

Athlete: Alana Nichols Physical Challenge: Spinal Cord Injury Birthday: March 21, 1983 Sport: Surfing, Kayaking, Monoskiing, Basketball, Paracanoeing Bio: Alana Nichols grew up in Farmington, New Mexico living an active lifestyle by participating in multiple athletics and having a passion for mountain sports. In 2000 during a backcountry ski trip in Colorado, she suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury while snowboarding, paralyzing her from mid-thigh down. She thought her athletic career was over until she experienced a wheelchair basketball game her freshman year at the University of New Mexico. The physical and competitive gameplay reignited her athletic endeavors and later she transferred to the University of Arizona to participate in the intercollegiate program for disabled sports. She later played basketball at and received her master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Alabama in 2008. Since, she has competed in several Paralympic games and is the first woman Paralympian to win gold medals at both Summer and Winter games. Debuting at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, she won the gold competing in women’s wheelchair basketball. She went on to compete in the next four consecutive Paralympic games, winning 2 more gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze. She has competed in wheelchair basketball, Paralympic alpine monoskiing, and at her final Paralympic games in Rio, paracanoeing. Alana may have retired from her Paralympic career, but while in the mix of training for her multiple events, she developed a passion for surfing. She has competed in the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship since 2015.  With her boy Gunnar and partner Roy Tuscany, she will continue surfing and working to implement adaptive surfing into the 2028 games!

My name is Quinn Waitley and I am a 28-year-old Professional Adaptive Athlete. Born and raised in San Diego, local to Coronado. I come from a big athletic Family of seven girls and I’m also one of four identical quadruplets. Being born 28 weeks prematurely who exulted me in being born with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy, Also known as CP. Growing up I’ve played a lot of sports from wheelchair rugby to WCMX (wheelchair skateboarding) but I’ve always loved the water since I was a kid So Surfing came naturally to me. I really got into surfing when I was 20 years old, when they how old the first ISA world para-surfing championships And I took one look at my parents and told them that I wanted to be on the US national Surfing team. June 2021 that a dream became a reality and I became the first female for the adaptive prone division (prone 2), i’ve been the top female for for team USA for the last six years. I am also the 2018 Dukes Ocean Fest  women’s Prone assist champion. I’m currently ranked 6th in the world And I’m East and west coast national champion. My favorite part about surfing is getting out of my wheelchair and leaving it on the beach and going as fast as I can on any wave!. I hope to encourage young girls to get out in the water and experience the joy of surfing but also to let them know that they can be competitive even if they have limitations. One way I do that is my families and I‘s nonprofit team Quinn. Team  Quinn's main goal is to let everyone with disabilities along with your families to experience surfing or just a day at the Beach, we take every level from beginner to experienced. Team Quinn prides themselves on teaching water safety and hold the team events from Coronado Shores to Cardiff. Our events are Smaller compared to most because we liked it get close to each person and their families that come out to the events. I would not be where I am today without God and the love and support of my friends and family. Since I was five years old it’s been my dream to go to the Paralympics, most of my dreams of becoming a professional athlete has already Became reality. Are you really hope Paralympics includes Surfing into the summer games and I hope to be a part of that.

This is Katherine's 4th year representing Team USA. When she's not in the water she works as a television writer, most recently as a Co-Executive Producer & writer on NCIS. After competing for years in WCMX (adaptive skateboarding), she's now moved onto judging those contests so she can focus more of her time and energy on surfing. Katherine is known for being the first woman to land a backflip on a wheelchair.  

Grew up in Panama City Beach, Fl. Stationed in NC with the 82nd Airborne Division. 3 time ISA Worlds competitor. Loves short walks on the beach.

Joshua “The Jedi” Loya started surfing much later in life, at the age of 37. A life-long martial artist, Joshua had always been intrigued by anything which tested the full human, mind, body, and soul. A year before the dawn of his surfing journey, Joshua left his career as a computer instructor and accessibility consultant to pursue martial arts and adventure living full-time. Joshua intended surfing to be a momentary diversion from his grueling training schedule. He fell in love with it, and he hasn’t stopped since.   Joshua grew up in Santa Cruz, California. He used to love to watch surfers when he was younger, but surfing was one of many activities deemed too dangerous. Almost everything Joshua wanted to do put him at risk of losing his eyesight. By the time of his sophomore year, Joshua was not allowed to run, swim, or lift weights. The stuff he especially wanted to do, martial arts, skateboarding, and surfing, were out of the question. Joshua could only hold out for so long.   Joshua became restless, taking more and more risks. He started dabbling in martial arts and more intensely joining mosh pits at concerts. In January of 1996, Joshua got to a breaking point. He cranked up Pantera’s Far Beyond Driven album as loud as he could possibly get it, grabbed a pair of nunchucks, and promptly hit himself in his sole functioning eye. Joshua had several unsuccessful surgeries to restore his eyesight, but, before all options had been exhausted, Joshua chose to stop pursuing treatment. “I knew life was going to be difficult. I also knew that the quality of my life would be better, once I no longer had to worry about losing vision I did not have.”   Once the bow string was released, Joshua moved forward with his adventuring. Rock climbing, water skiing, and the martial arts training he had dreamt of since he had been a boy. Joshua threw himself into his martial arts practice, eventually earning 5 separate black belts and rank across 7 distinct styles. Then, Joshua started surfing. His life was never the same.   Joshua’s confident and intuitive approach to surfing continues to make an impression with all those who witness him in the water. In Joshua’s short time competing, he has amassed 6 USA Surfing National Adaptive Surfing Championship wins, 1 US Open Adaptive Surfing Championships win, and a spot on the podium at 2020’s AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing Championships. Joshua is also the first ever WSA (Western Surfing Association) West Coast Visually Impaired Champion in the organization’s history. He was the first ever 100% blind surfer to ride Kelly Slater’s wave pool at the WSL Surf Ranch, having less than a year of surf experience at the time. His unique way of movement makes those who watch him wonder if he really does use The Force. - Joshua is affiliated with Waves 4 All Surf and Sail, and he is coached by John White.   - Founder of Adventure Mind Inc., a new san diego based non-profit. "Extreme sports and creative expression for adaptive people and our allies."   - Stand-up comedian. Undefeated Roast Battle comic. - He is a member of Surfight Jiu Jitsu in Del Mar, and is a direct student of Joel Tudor. - Originally from Santa Cruz, California. - Sometimes confused with Josh Loya, the famous big wave surfer, who is also from Santa Cruz.   - Lost his eyesight in a nunchuck accident as a teenager.   - Trained martial artist with 5 black belts and ranks across 7 styles. 

I have two beautiful twin boys that are 7 years old. I won two World Titles. I have two amazing surfboards. I am hoping too/two win my third World Title...At the end of the day, I just want to enjoy each day, each competition, and create beautiful memories because you never know what tomorrow my bring. 

Forrest was born and raised in Long Beach, California. He graduated high school in 2005 and decided to join the Marine Corps shortly after. Forrest was an active-duty Marine for six years before his contract expired. He was very fortunate to be able to see the world while in the Marine Corps. Some of the countries that he has stepped foot on is Japan, Korea, Guam, Cambodia, Philippines, Australia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Switzerland, England, Morocco, Mexico, Uruguay, Peru, Panama, Brazil, Angola, South Africa, and Canada. Forrest’s active-duty career ended in 2011 when he decided to dedicate his time to finish an undergrad program. He originally was in a program to become a professional pilot, which is another one of his passions, but he realized after a year that it wasn't a good investment for a technology centric future. So, he re-evaluated his priorities and moved into a computer networking program. It was one of the best decisions he has ever made. After ten years, he was finally able to finish an undergrad program and graduated with his Bachelor's of Science in Network Communication Management in January of 2016. Forrest is a married father of an amazing boy, whom is his pride and joy. He is a family man who enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors with activities such as: hiking, surfing, or taking the family to the park.

I am 23 years old born and raised in Reno Nevada. I began Waveskiing in November of 2022, a year and a half after sustaining a spinal cord injury while surfing in maui in 2021. along side surfing I also enjoy skiing and will begin my racing career in 2024. I have a bachelors degree in public health and would like to use it to work with other people who have disabilities that participate in sports. 

Surfing in the ocean was the last place I expected to be. I went into the ocean to heal the broken bits of my soul. It became the place that changed my life.  

I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa when I was 9 years old but didn't understand the challenges of losing my vision until I was a teenager. I'm the only person in my family with an eye disease and have learned on my own how to adapt and keep up even though I'm now limited to just my central 15 degrees of vision.  More recently, my narrowing vision has made sports more difficult but competition has always been part of who I am.  Despite my vision loss, I'm now a new mom after having been a nanny for 15 years.  I've been an avid soccer player since I was 5 and now a yoga enthusiast.  In my spare time I love to bake and paint large canvases.  I love the ocean for the serenity, lifestyle, and challenge.

Erin Koffel has been an above the knee amputee since the age of two. She is a lifelong swimmer, yogi and runner. She started surfing when her family moved to Santa Cruz two years ago and hasn’t looked back. She is passionate about showcasing adaptive surfing and supporting women surfers. “I love inspiring everyone to get in the water and surf. It’s such a life changing experience to catch a wave. I want to help create inclusive and supportive spaces to make that happen for as many people as possible. Being chosen to represent the US at the World Championships is a huge honor and I am stoked to help showcase surfing as a sport for everyone.”

First time on Team USA 

First ever recruited Collegiate Para Surfer - SDSU

Avid waterman - surfing, sailing, paddling, wakeboarding and fishing

Dabble in shaping and everything surfboards.