“At Gnome Surf, our mission is to create an inclusive, compassionate world where athletes of all abilities can experience the healing power of the ocean. Through surf therapy, art therapy, yoga, and mindfulness, we empower neurodivergent individuals, individuals with special needs, and those facing mental health challenges to build confidence, emotional resilience, and lasting connections.
Surfing is a uniquely effective therapeutic tool, offering sensory regulation, physical stimulation, and a space for athletes to step outside their comfort zones. However, every athlete’s needs are unique. While some thrive with a single mentor, others require extra hands in the water—sometimes three or four trained staff members—to ensure complete safety, physical support, and emotional security in the ocean.
At Gnome Surf, we believe in radical equity: the cost for a session remains constant, regardless of how many instructors an athlete needs to surf safely.
This model is only possible because of dedicated partners like The Genesis Foundation. Grant funding from the Foundation directly provides those critical extra hands in the water, ensuring that higher support ratios never create a financial burden for families.
The Power of Inclusion in Action
The true impact of this grant can be seen in the story of one of our long-time athletes who lives with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Non-verbal and communicating through eye and mouth movements, he lights up when spending time on the water. To surf safely, his sessions require a full team of 4 instructors: one person sitting behind him on the board, one driving the board, and additional support staff carefully supporting his head and navigating the waves.
Because of the grant funding that allows us to maintain this level of support, his journey reached an unforgettable milestone this past season.
Inspired by her son’s experience, his mom joined our women’s surfing program this year with a single goal in mind: to surf alongside her son and catch a “party wave” together at our Little Legends Wave Fest Inclusive Surf Showcase. She worked all season long, as did he, practicing their skills for the showcase.
During the showcase, they achieved their dream, sharing a wave side-by-side. To make the day even more extraordinary, he went on to win 2nd place in his division. We have never seen him smile as big as he did at that moment. That smile represents the core of our mission. It is the power of inclusion, the joy of shared family memories, and the life-changing confidence that comes from accessible adaptive sports.
By funding the extra personnel needed for complex sessions, The Genesis Foundation does far more than support logistics—they make moments like these possible. On behalf of our athletes, families, and team, we extend our deepest gratitude to The Genesis Foundation for helping us keep the ocean safe, equal, and open to all.”