A Walk On Water (“AWOW”) provides Surf Therapy to children with special needs or disability. The ocean’s transformative properties empower our participants, who enjoy a much-deserved day of laughter, love, and acceptance alongside their family. For one perfect, restorative day at the beach, there are no labels. Everyone is an Athlete. Here are some photos from their latest surf therapy event in Malibu. These photos were shot by Erik Eiser.















You can find these and a lot more photos from this event, all full size and in high-resolution, in this photo galley:

Malibu 2018 | Erik Eiser | A Walk On Water Photo Gallery

By Michael Ray
Photos by Angela Sun

Saturday May 19, the Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, Stokeshare, the Alma Foundation, and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Cadets lined up on the coast at Bay Street, Santa Monica, for the second Annual Hands Across the Sand. Drawing together teams of surfers, volunteers, youth, and environmental advocates, the event was part skill share and part environmental education.

CJ Todd, an organizer of the event, explained that “the day started with a surf lesson” and concluded with a discussion about “plastic pollution and watersheds.” He added that the concept of “one watershed” represents “everything being connected.” In addition to surfboards, wetsuits and volunteer surf instruction, the youth in attendance were also treated to burritos from Plancha in Venice.

A first-time participant, Cesar J., said that he was glad that he came to learn how to surf. “I was a little nervous,” he confessed. He was brought to the event through Alma Family Services, an organization servicing the Ramona Gardens and Boyle Heights area. Gema Rodriguez, a case manager at Alma Family Services said that the youth were brought to the event via organization Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD).

“[The youth] were a little apprehensive at first, they didn’t want to put on the wetsuits,” Rodriguez said, adding that once they started, “surfing was a great opportunity for them to do something that they may not have tried to do otherwise.”

Joy Cernac, an Executive Committee Member of the Sierra Club’s Angeles Chapter, shared information about past, present and upcoming events with people in attendance. She stated that “it is not all gloom and doom, we can change this and enjoy our coastlines” citing that the group’s presence at Hands Across the Sand was “a show of solidarity against offshore drilling.” L.A. Waterkeeper’s Mithsy Hernandez stated that as an organization that works with “Water quality and quantity” from the Los Angeles River to ocean and marine protected areas, “we don’t want to see offshore drilling.”

As the youth, adults, and organizers held hands, a drone operator flew overhead to document the occasion. The line of people spread both directions from lifeguard tower 20. At the end of the day, the group gathered proclaiming, “we are one watershed!”

Nick Gabaldon Day 2018 was a blast! Mahalo to everyone who came out Bay Street to celebrated the life of Nick Gabaldon and his devotion to surfing. Nick was the first documented surfer of African-American and Mexican descent, at the historical African American beach site, sometimes formerly called the “Inkwell”. Gabaldon’s legacy has inspired many surfers of color and many consider him as a role model. Here are some photos shot by Damien Baskette.

On Saturday, Tower 28 in Santa Monica was the spot where A Walk On Water held their first local event of 2018.

A Walk On Water provides water therapy through guided surf instruction to specials needs children. Surfing is used as a tool to gain self confidence skills and promote the therapeutic benefits of the sport’s positive effects. Children experience the true “stoke” of surfing and a sense of accomplishment as family and friends cheer them on from the beach. Brothers and sisters also participate, helping to solidify an often strained bond between siblings. These surf events focus on both the athletes and their families, who are treated to a well-deserved day of relaxation, healthy food and lifestyle guidance.

These photos were shot by Six12 Media



















There are over 600 more photos from this event, all full size and in high-resolution, in the huge A Walk On Water - Santa Monica 2018 - Photo Gallery.

The next event is May 6th in Malibu, visit A Walk On Water for more info.

On Saturday, The Mighty Under Dogs held there 2nd Annual March MUDness Surf Therapy event at Surfrider Beach in Malibu. These photos are from Becca Noland