Operation Surf brings annual adaptive surfing to “wounded warriors”
Today, a group of wounded soldiers arrived in Santa Cruz, California for a week of surfing lessons, thanks to local surf instructors and a nonprofit program called Operation Surf! When the group came into town, kids from Mission Hill Middle School lined Mission Street, holding signs and cheering!
The eight veterans came from Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and the expenses for their trip are paid by Operation Comfort, which is based in San Antonio, Texas.
“Operation Surf is part of San Luis Obispo-based Amazing Surf Adventures, headed by surfer Van Curaza. The group developed an adaptive surfing program and began helping injured veterans learn to surf in 2006, said Vice President Amanda Kline.
They visited Santa Cruz last year too. Richard Schmidt Surf School hosted the surf school both times, Kline said.”
One member of the group is Sergeant Aaron Kumamoto, 25, who grew up in Boulder Creek. In February, he had his lower leg amputated after it was shattered by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Al Asad, Iraq. Kumamoto said that he had surfed before, with a cousin when he was in high school.
A 21-year-old Army National Guard medic from Cleveland, Oklahoma, Ashley Jones, was injured by an IED while in a vehicle in eastern Afganistan.
“I’ve never surfed, but I’ve always wanted to,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be this way, but here I am.”
When the group arrived at the Dream Inn, Operation Surf members were handing out free T-shirts. The soldieers will surf twice a day, golf, and more.
At 8 PM on Saturday, there will be a “farewell bash” that is open to the public, at the Ideal Bar & Grill.
-Bill at
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