Surf Dog Ricochet

Since then, I have surfed with hundreds of kids with special needs, people with disabilities, wounded warriors and veterans with PTSD. I instinctively counter-balance the board and adapt my surfing style based on each individual’s disability… healing hearts and souls on every wave. I’m also the only SURFice dog® on the planet who provides canine assisted surfing and other activities to empower, enhance and improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities.

COMPETITIVE SURFING I started surfing when I was eight weeks old on a boogie board in a kiddie pool. At fifteen months, I entered my first surf dog competition and won third place! From there, I entered and placed in the top three winning positions in most contests I entered. In 2015, I stopped competing to focus exclusively on adaptive surfing. However, I still surf for fun and to raise awareness.

PAWS-ON HEALING Although surfing has been at the forefront of my work, it’s not just the act of surfing that makes my interactions so life changing. It’s my compelling, one-of-a-kind ability to make immediate, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul connections with strangers both in and out of the water. I’ve been blessed with extraordinary and powerful gifts. And because they’ve been nurtured I have an exceptional level of healing mastery. When I meet a person it’s like they’re a book and I read the whole book in a matter of seconds. I intuitively and empathically alert to their emotional and physical changes which allows for profound paws-on healing interventions. I balance boards, and lives! To see videos that illustrate this, go to https://www.surfdogricochet.com/healing-power-of-surf-dog-ricochet.html I’m an advocate, ambassador and spokesdog for many causes and have also created my own programs and initiatives. Some of them are outlined below. WAVES OF EMPOWERMENT This program takes my surf therapy, ocean therapy, paws-on healing and pawing it forward initiatives to the next level. It’s about inspiring and empowering people with disabilities to help themselves by helping others. These are individuals that I have previously surfed or worked with, who are now volunteering to help the next wave of disabled surfers get on board with me! For more info, go to http://www.surfdogricochet.com/waves-of-empowerment.html

PTSD BATTLE BUDDY INITIATIVE Every 65 minutes a veteran with PTSD dies by su***de. I am committed to reducing those staggering statistics by using the healing power of a dog in the fight against PTSD. For more info, go to http://www.surfdogricochet.com/ptsd.html OPERATION SOCIALIZATION Matching service dog puppies in training with veterans with PTSD to socialize the puppies and reduce social anxiety in the veterans. For more info, go to http://www.surfdogricochet.com/operation-socialization.html

CORI’S CANINE-ASSISTED SWIMMING Aqua Dog Cori heads up the canine-assisted swimming program for kids with autism, special needs, fears and other challenges. She’s a female golden/lab mix who was born on September 16, 2016 at a service dog organization.

​Cori received her canine-good citizen certificate when she was 15 weeks old. She has gone on to become a certified goal directed therapy dog with Paws'itive Teams, and a registered therapy dog with Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Like Ricochet, she has chosen her own life purpose, and is already trying to save lives. Her favorite activity, besides food, is water rescue. Although she has a natural instinct to immediately respond to activity in the water, she is also being formally trained to perform water rescue in case the need ever arises.

Cori began service dog training the day she came home. She also received five days of water rescue training in both the pool and ocean from the renowned SICS Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs. After completion she received a certificate, but the best part was our canine-assisted swimming program was endorsed by Ferruccio Pilenga and his dog Mas who started the SICS program. ​ MAKE-A-WISH Caleb was a 15 year old boy with stage 4 brain and spine cancer. When Make-A-Wish asked what he wished for, he said “To surf with Ricochet”. Caleb was one of the most inspiring kids we know. Despite the pain and challenges he endured, he always had a smile on his face. ISA WORLD ADAPTIVE SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP The world’s best adaptive surfers compete for individual and team medals. The competitors represent their countries and have the opportunity to come together in the spirit of fair competition. I have surfed in the expression session, and support the organizations and surfers involved. SURFIN' FOR PAWS-ABILITIES I took my natural ability of balancing on a surfboard, and made it meaningful... I wanted to make a difference. So, Surfin' for Paws-abilities was born!... which is a fundraising initiative carved out for me through our non-profit, Puppy Prodigies. ANTI-BULLYING I’m a dog who stayed true to myself despite the expectations of others, and not standing up for myself when bullied by other dogs. Now, I go to schools to bark about the work I do, and instill the concept of individuality. CANINE INSPIRED COMMUNITY RE-INTEGRATION (CICR) I’m involved in this therapy dog program is through Paws’itive Teams and Naval Medical Center. The program helps active duty military with PTSD make the transition back into the civilian world through canine therapy.

SURF AWAY SMA WITH RICOCHET Every summer we hold a surf session for kids with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in an effort to give them a thrill of a lifetime and to raise awareness of the disease. PAW IT FORWARD I’m an ambassador for Pay It Forward Day because I live a lifestyle of pawing it forward for human & animal causes. AUTISM SURF CAMP For six weeks during the summer, the Autism Society San Diego holds a surf camp for kids with autism. It runs for six weeks, and there is a new group of kids every week. I surf with the kids which gives them a sense of independence and empowerment. VETERAN'S ADAPTIVE SPORTS CAMP - SURF CLINIC For one week each September, the VA holds an adaptive sports camp for disabled veterans. One of the clinics is surfing and I attend to surf and support the veterans. BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED RETREAT - FRIENDS OF BETHANY HAMILTON This is a retreat held each fall to inspire, strengthen, and teach young female amputees to use their physical difference as a platform to shine a bright light to others! One of the retreat days is for surfing, and I’ve been invited to attend and surf with the girls for several years. CANINE AMBASSADOR FOR SURFERS WITH DISABILITIES℠ Prior to me, there were no dogs committed to adaptive surfing. As such, I’ve become the Canine Ambassador for Surfers with Disabilities℠. I’ve been surfing as such since 2009. THE JIMMY MILLER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION This ocean therapy program is for marines at Camp Pendleton. I was asked to be an Ambassador and have attended their surf sessions and annual event for several years. THE BEST DAY FOUNDATION They take kids with special needs out for a fun day on the beach. I’ve been an Ambassador for them since 2011. LIFE ROLLS ON Provides surf and skate events for people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. I’ve been an Ambassador for their program for several years SAN DIEGO METRO FLEET & FAMILY READINESS PROGRAMS The hold a Navy Woof Walk every year, and I’ve been invited to be the Grand Marshall for the last several years.