Family learns life lessons at adaptive surfing event

The Bradley family of Ramona were in for the lesson of a lifetime when they encountered the 2017 Stance ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship during a recent excursion to the beach in La Jolla.

Shad Bradley, a resident of Ramona for 16 years, said he was surprised to see a large crowd at the beach while he was there with his wife, Celeste; daughters Shyla, 18, and Coco, 16; and 16-year-old nephew, Becketts. The Bradley crew soon learned of the International Surfing Association’s event when one of the contestants, Christiaan “Otter” Bailey, came over to them, curious about one of the Bradleys’ surfboards painted with a Japanese flag design.

Bailey had been a former professional surfer before he was paralyzed from the waist down in a skateboarding accident. He eventually took up surfing again, only using adaptive strategies.

“He was very well-respected out there,” Shad Bradley said. “A lot of people were inspired by him despite their disabilities.”

The Bradleys were hooked, and stayed at the surfing competition that day to watch the opening ceremony. Shad Bradley said some of the 109 adaptive surfing athletes representing 26 nations carried flags and the Australian team carried one of their teammates while singing the “Men at Work” song.

One thing led to another, and the Bradleys returned the following Saturday and Sunday to watch the main competitions and finals. They were awestruck by how well the contestants used their adapted wheelchairs and were guided by their aids, who help push them through the ocean water.

“They were amazing,” Shad Bradley said. “I never would have thought to attempt to surf in those conditions. It seems scary just watching it. They come back with an adrenaline rush. They just love the risk and have the opportunity to do it.”

Shad and Celeste Bradley seized the opportunity themselves to teach life lessons to Shyla, Coco and Becketts, all of whom are home schooled. During the Bradleys’ second day of attendance at the 2017 Stance ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, Shyla, Coco and Becketts learned what it takes to overcome challenges while interviewing and taking pictures of the contestants.

The teenagers were particularly impressed by the accomplishments of Ismael Guillorit, who represented Norway. They could tell that Guillorit, 39, of the Norwegian Laplands, stood out among the crowd of surfers.

“Not so much because he’s an amputee from the right knee down, but more so from his larger than life personality and the heaps of seaweed purposely draped around his neck as if he were the king of Mardi Gras,” Shad Bradley wrote based on the interviews of his daughters and nephew. “The horned Viking hat he wore while surfing also helped.”

When the Bradleys asked Guillorit how he manages the difficulties of surfing with a prosthetic device, he quickly answered with a big smile.

“Don’t look at my disability, look at my abilities,” Guillorit said, while pointing to his prosthetic. “This is a small problem, just like anybody has. I don’t let it stop me from doing what I want to do. If I want to succeed, I’ve got to train. If I fall down and say it’s because I’m disabled, I’m not going to succeed. I focus on my dreams. I do it, I get up and try and try again.”

Plenty of inspiration was also provided by contestant Scott Leason, 61, who miraculously survived being shot in the head during an armed robbery at a convenience store 24 years ago. Leason lost his sight and sense of smell but not his exuberance for life.

“Never lose sight of what you want,” Leason told the Bradleys.

Leason’s Facebook page is titled “Never Lose Sight.” He continued surfing after he recovered from his near-fatal injury, and now surfs competitively in the blind category of adaptive surfing. Leason is very comfortable in the water and receives guidance from an aid who swims nearby and calls out directions like “paddle now” and “cut right.” He is ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and fifth in the world in the adaptive surfing world standings.

The Bradleys plan to attend the next ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, and will probably bring a few friends to share the experience. Their takeaways from the 2017 event included observations of how remarkably strong the athletes were, both physically and mentally; how brave they were, though none admitted to their courage; and how motivated they were to achieve their goals, overcoming enormous obstacles.

“More people need to see that,” Shad Bradley said. “It’s a good life lesson. There’s so many things they’ve gone through, but it’s not even an issue for them. We can get hung up on much smaller things.”