>  They Will Surf Again (TWSA)
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Program Summary
They Will Surf Again, a no-cost program underwritten by Life Rolls On and generous sponsors, is the most popular program of Life Rolls On. Injured athletes from around the country gather together for a day of surfing! Some have not surfed since their injury, some have never surfed, some surf all the time despite their varying mobility. TWSA connects dozens of volunteers, with a handful of injured surfers, together for a day of excitement, joy, and best of all, surf! Safety precautions and experienced watermen (and women), along with lifeguards will be present. No prior surfing experience is necessary. Quality of Life surveys may be required for future participants.
Read the TWSA Research Study (PDF)
Through the efforts of LRO Board Member Richard Yelland, TWSA was born many years ago with a San Diego to Santa Cruz surfing expedition raising funds and awareness for spinal cord injury research. TWSA has since grown into a bi-coastal outreach program, that is also major component of the US Open of Surfing, the largest surfing competition in the world!
To participate as a surfer or volunteer in future TWSA events, please sign up today.
To learn how your contribution supports the TWSA program, read the TWSA Case Statement (PDF)
Program Schedule - Next Events
Event #21 September 20, 2008 Cocoa Beach, FL
Previous TWSA Events
Event #20 August 16, 2008 Bolsa Chica State Beach, CA (Tower 21)
Event #19 August 9, 2008 Little Island Park, Virginia Beach
Event #18 July 19, 2008 Zuma Beach, CA in association with Nike and Hurley. Media Advisory for July 19 Event
Event #17 June 22, 2008 Pier Village, Long Branch, New Jersey
Event #16 June 21, 2008 Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Event #15 May 10, 2008 Jacksonville Beach, FL - 27 surfers over 175 volunteers.
TWSA #14 - March 9th, 2008 (La Jolla Shores, San Diego, California) We have to say it again, but this was our largest TWSA event ever! Over 150 volunteers, and over 2 dozen adaptive surfers. Event covered by several news outlets, including Fuel TV, ABC, NBC and others.
> See photos from the event!
> Video (MyLocalLineUp)
TWSA #13 - October 27, 2007: (Jacksonville, FL) Special thanks to Carl Bergstrom for making this event a huge success!
TWSA #12 - October 6, 2007: (Bolsa Chica State Beach, Tower 21, Huntington Beach, CA) 24 disabled surfers, over 125 volunteers. The biggest TWSA event ever! Photos coming soon.
TWSA #11 - June 2, 2007: Amazing day at Stone Street in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Special thanks to volunteer coordinators Mike Gurrera and Tony Butler. View photos
TWSA #10 - May 26, 2007: LRO's first ever official Florida event was held in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Ten disabled surfers, most who had never surfed before, were assisted by nearly 50 volunteers on a busy Memorial Day Weekend. It was an amazing day and a milestone for Life Rolls On. Special thanks to volunteer coordinators Van Starling and Carl Bergstrom.
> Read Florida Today article #1
> Read Florida Today article #2
> TWSA Florida Today Video
> TWSA Florida Today Photos
TWSA #9 - April 29, 2007: (Bolsa Chica State Beach, Tower 21, Huntington Beach, CA). The largest TWSA event to date was a huge success. Over 150 volunteers, and 24 adaptive surfers enjoyed great waves and mediocre weather. Participants flew in from Canada and Texas, while others drove in from Oregon and Northern California.
TWSA #8 - December 10, 2006 (Bolsa Chica State Beach, Tower 21, Huntington Beach, CA). LAPD Officer Kristina Ripatti, 15 other adaptive surfers, and over 100 volunteers enjoyed a great day on the beach. Media coverage from local news stations documented the event. Photography by Mike Morse. Thank you to all volunteers and participants!
TWSA #7 - July 9, 2006 (Zuma Beach, Malibu, California) 20+ surfers and 60+ volunteers enjoyed the fantastic weather.
TWSA #6 - June 10, 2006 (Stone Street, Wrightsville Beach, NC) First ever TWSA event on the East Coast. Van Starling, producer/director of the surf movie "Life Rolls On", and Tony Butler of Sweetwater Surf Shop, coordinated this event in North Carolina. The turnout was amazing!
> Surfing Magazine Online
> Wilmington Morning Star Story
> News Channel 3 Story
> Listen to the National Public Radio story about the event (4MB MP3)
TWSA #5 - March 26 (Bolsa Chica State Beach, Tower 21, Huntington Beach, CA) TWSA Event #5. 25 'disabled' surfers and 100 volunteers turned out. It was an amazing event!
> Event Photos
> Read article from OC Register about the event
TWSA #4 - October 22, 2005 (Bolsa Chica State Beach, Tower 21, Huntington Beach, CA) TWSA  Event #4. Life Rolls on gave away a "Jesse Billauer" custom Channel Islands surfboard to one lucky attendee.
> View Official Press Release Here (PDF 128k)
> View photo album on Surfline
July 31st, 2005 (Huntington Beach, California) 4th Annual US Open of Surfing Expression Session. While not a traditional TWSA program, Life Rolls On put on an assisted surfing display in front of close to 100,000 people. Top surfers in the world participate in this event along with LRO founder, Jesse Billauer. More information can be found here.
TWSA #3 - May 21, 2005 (Zuma Beach, Malibu, California) TWSA Event #3 was held at Zuma Beach in Malibu. Event was open to first 15 disabled athletes to sign up, although due to high demand it was raised to 20 surfers! We also had nearly 40 amazing volunteers to help in the water and on the beach.
TWSA #2 - November 20, 2004 (La Jolla Shores, San Diego, California)
TWSA #1 - October 17, 2004 (Blackie's, Newport Beach, California) Inaugural TWSA event
Equipment Donations
TWSA is in need of certain items to aid this program. If you are able to donate (or loan) any of the following items, please let us know:
 > Wetsuits for safety, warmth and comfort (all sizes, all thicknesses, spring/full/vests, new/used)
> Beach Wheelchairs: Chairs for West Coast TWSA have been donated. Thank you HB Elks Lodge & Dave King. Additional chairs are needed for our East Coast programs.
> Neoprene Life Vests for safety of participants
> Dodge Sprinter for transporting all equipment (boards, wetsuits, wheelchairs, etc.)
> Swim Fins for safety of our water volunteers
 Photos
TWSA #11: Wrightsville Beach, NC
TWSA #9: Bolsa Chica (by Mike Morse)
TWSA #5: Bolsa Chica (by Mike Morse)
TWSA #4: Bolsa Chica (by Tom Cozad)
TWSA #1: Newport Beach (by Tom Cozad)
TWSA #2: La Jolla Shores (by Ryan Cardone)
More Available in Photo Section
Program Underwriters
 Global Surf Industries: Surfboards, Surfboards, Surfboards, that's all we make at Global Surf Industries. Our range of surfboards starts with boards that you can learn to surf on as a beginner, all the way through to boards that are being ridden at many of the best surf breaks around the world. Whether you just started surfing or you have been enjoying it for decades, you will understand what we are saying in our company mantra "Life is better when you surf." Our goal is to produce surfboards for all sorts of people all over the world to love and ride as often as they can.
 Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA): SIMA is the trade association of competing surf industry product suppliers working together to magnify their power for the development of the surf industry by promoting awareness and participation in the sport of surfing; endorsing industry trade shows to assist members in bringing products to market; providing programs, services and information to assist members in improving business operations; supporting oceanic environmental efforts and by recognizing and being responsive to member needs.
Program Videos (Both Will Start Simultaneously, Pause Video 2 Until Ready to Watch)
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