‘Operation Surf’ gives veterans some TLC through surfing
UPDATE 03/23/18 3:40PM Some deserving veterans are on the Central Coast this week catching waves with the “Operation Surf” program.
It kicked off Friday morning in Capitola. The program teaches men and women who have served in the armed forces how to surf, but for some it does more than that.
The program is aimed at helping veterans who are injured or facing challenges once they come back home, all through surfing.
Ambassador Bobby Lane, who participated in the program for the first time in 2011 says, “it saved and changed my life.”
Lane served four year in the Marine Corps, he was injured while on tour in Iraq and coming back home he faced more challenges than he realized, “I was going through a really dark time and I was ready, surfing was the last thing on my bucket list, and I was going to go surf and go
home and commit suicide.”
He never knew his first time surfing would save his life, “after catching that first wave, this overwhelming sense of peace came over me and you know at that point I realized that my life isn’t mine to take. And the life I live now is to help and serve other veterans.”
Lane says he can see people’s lives change through this program right before his eyes, “it’s ya know kind of an emotional thing for me, just because I can kind of see the transition, I see where I was at at one point and to see others lives change, it’s just humbling.”
Organizer Van Curaza says the healing powers of the ocean are unlike anything else. “When you’re in the Ocean it takes a complete 110% focus. So whatever is going on in your World on land, once you’re in the water it’s all about the waves and the ocean and doing what it takes to be able to flow with it so you can enjoy it,” says Curaza.
Other veterans like Jez Woite has experienced those healing powers first hand. “Surfing has become my medication, I don’t take medication now whatsoever, I just get in the water and that’s where I find my peace.” says Woite. After participating in the program he became an instructor hoping to help others like himself.
15 veterans are participating in this year’s Santa Cruz event. The organization, Amazing Surf Adventures, holds three Operation Surf events in California each year.
The program goes until Tuesday with events being held each day, ending with a closing ceremony.
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Some deserving veterans are on the Central Coast this week catching waves with the “Operation Surf” program.
It kicked off this morning in Capitola. The program teaches men and women who have served in the armed forces how to surf, but for some it does more than that.
The program is aimed at helping veterans who are injured or facing challenges once they come back home, all through surfing.
15 veterans are participating in this year’s Santa Cruz event. The organization, Amazing Surf Adventures, holds three Operation Surf events each year.
It’s is a one week-long program “exposing them to the healing power of the ocean.”
The program goes until Tuesday with events being held each day.
KION’s Ashley Keehn will have the full story tonight.
