Wave-Ski Surfin’ Safari

Beth Livingston and Steve Boehne get ready to ride the waves.
Boehne invented a surf board-and a whole new way of surfing-
for people who have mobility disabilities. (Photo by Dan Boehne,
courtesy of Infinitysurf.com)

If you love water, adventure, and being “out there,” wave-skiing may be your ticket to summer fun.

By Beth Livingston

Steve Boehne, the owner of Infinity Surfboards in Dana Point, California, who has been Tandem Surfing World Champion for over 25 years with his wife Barrie, injured his Achilles tendon in 2004. The prognosis-that he would need surgery, and be unable to surf standing, solo, or tandem, for over three months-was devastating news to Steve, who has surfed daily, for most of his life.

Unwilling to accept his limitations, Steve chained himself to his board-shaping shop to work out his problem. Unable to bear weight on his leg or stand, he had to come up with an entirely new way to ride a wave. Steve thought of all the dynamic forces applied to the surface of the board while surfing. He wondered how one might attack the wave in a different way. Why not surf sitting down? You could navigate the waves with the aid of a paddle, rather than your feet for carving and banking. It made enough sense to make a board for that purpose and see.

With the tools in his possession, Steve carved a tandem “wave ski” for his wife Barrie and him to demonstrate. Given the option, Steve and Barrie prefer to do almost everything, “tandem.” From surfing, to skateboarding to cycling, the pair has been a “conjoined twin” for nearly 25 years in their sport pastimes and competitions. Their specialty is having Steve twirl Barrie overhead and perform other acrobatic stunts while surfing on a big board. The wave ski, an adaptation of the tandem board, was an immediate success, and has become Steve and Barrie’s new mode for riding waves.

Stepping into the Liquid

Two years ago, on a trip to Los Angeles, I had the pleasure of riding the tandem wave ski for the first time, captained by a local celebrity, Uncle Jean. My friend Freddie is a T-12 paraplegic and has been riding waves on a wave ski ever since a car accident ended his traditional surfing career. Freddie is passionate about surfing, and his enthusiasm gave me the courage to give it a try.

What was borne out of necessity for Steve during his recovery took off around the shores of San Onofre, California. His wave ski was an intriguing new approach to riding a wave. A pursuit for the nontraditionalists at heart, the Infinity Surf shop has shaped and sold over 400 single boards, and around 14 tandems to date. The wave ski is a new way for someone who can’t stand up to engage in the incredibly spiritual experience of riding waves and “stepping into the liquid.” It is a vehicle to a shared experience in the ocean with people of all abilities. On a wave ski in the ocean, taking off on a wave, we are all equal. OK, until I panic, fall off my board, take in a quart of sea water, and begin flailing, coughing up salt water, and doggy paddling. Until that moment (and not long afterward), we surfers were all equal, and it was beautiful. After my maiden voyage with Uncle Jean, I was hooked.

It didn’t matter to me that I stunk. That was to be expected. I had no experience. What I learned that day was that I need not be relegated to the beach, sculpted like a piece of driftwood, watching life happen before my very eyes. I could be part of the action. I could share in the joy of surfing, and swimming, and flailing about anywhere in the world. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so disconnected.

Challenging Athletes

In March, I received word from The Challenged Athletes Foundation that I had been awarded a grant I had applied for to purchase a wave ski. I immediately made plans to meet Steve Boehne in Los Angeles, surf for five days while I was in town, and order a board of my own. For five days, I got up at 5:00 a.m. to drive the two hours south to our surf spot: Dog Tail, at San Onofre. Steve would be waiting with his Cheshire cat smile, his boundless good humor, and a van full of surf gear ready to go. To add to Steve’s “good guy” charm, he offers a discount on the purchase of his wave ski to people with disabilities. He doesn’t pay lip service to the plight of being “challenged;” he wants to get you out there to play!

I was not the only foolhardy soul with a disability out there. Freddie came to watch one day, as he was on the “injured” list. There was another para in a surf kayak, fishing, and riding waves, and Dan, a C-3 quadriplegic radiologist from Newport Beach, guided by two 20-something surf “dudes” who love to help him catch waves. The beach has outdoor showers, clean accessible facilities, and a beach wheelchair to help you gain access to the water’s edge.

My last day surfing, I tried my hand at navigating my own “borrowed” wave ski. No more tandem. No more Steve at the helm. I was alone, powered by my own steam. The waves were smaller and gentler that day, perfect for a novice with little courage. I caught maybe 20 waves. About 12 caught me. But I was doing it. I was out there having the experience. I was participating, not spectating. It’s where I prefer to be.

I recently received an e-mail from my friend Marc Mast, who runs camps for wounded soldiers. It was my volunteer work for his ski camp two winters ago where I contacted the Wounded Warrior Project for support for our weekend that led me to my affiliation with United Spinal. Marc is the founder of Wood River Ability Program, in Sun Valley, Idaho, and is taking a group of soldiers who have amputations to California to teach them to surf. The idea for this trip came from a wounded soldier who is a surfer. When asked what he wanted to do after losing a leg in combat he said, “I want to learn to surf again.” He was told if he could find someone to teach him, sponsorship would be found. He found The Amputee Surfers Alliance, which is going to provide lessons and equipment to the 20 soldiers on this trip to Pismo Beach, California. Operation Comfort, a nonprofit out of San Antonio Texas, The Red River Valley Rats, a nonprofit group of Vietnam fighter pilots, and the Wood River Ability Program are providing funding for this trip.

There are many programs that teach people with disabilities to surf and there is an abundance of talented surfers itching to help get you out there. Check out the organizations making these, and many other experiences, possible. You might just find one that is a fit for you or someone you know—either as a participant, or a volunteer. You might want to apply for funding, or donate to one of these programs, to make funding and opportunities available. Consider where you might fit in!

Resources

Infinity Surf Boards
Steve and Barrie Boehne, owners
Dana Point, CA 92629
949-661-6699
Infinitysurf.com

Amputee Surfers Alliance
AMPSURF.com

Challenged Athletes Foundation
11199 Sorrento Valley Rd,. Suite C
San Diego, CA 92121
858-866-0958
caf@challengedathletes.org

Operation Comfort
Janis Roznowski
San Antonio, TX
Jroz123@austin.rr.com

Wood River Ability Program
PO Box 2605
Ketchum, ID 83340 208-726-9013
208-720-7254

The Red River Valley Rats National Office
P.O. Box 1916
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-442-7782
AFBridger@aol.com

Ride A Wave
P.O. Box 7606
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
831-239-3672
info@rideawave.org

Beth Livingston writes Action’s “Growing Pains” column. A former Paralympic skier, she lives with her two children in Bozeman, Montana.