Wave riders

On a balmy Wednesday morning, after successfully riding a handful of waves at White Plains Beach in Kalaeloa, the only thought on Sgt. Roberto Jimenez’s mind was how he beat the odds.

After almost 12 years in the Army, including a tour of duty in Kosovo and two in Iraq, and six surgeries since 2009, Jimenez said learning how to surf has given him a renewed outlook on life.

He has severe nerve damage to nearly half his body, so surfing may not have been a possibility for Jimenez, 38, without AccesSurf. While working with his occupational therapist at Tripler Army Medical Center, he was encouraged to participate in the program offered by the nonprofit organization.

"We have professional therapists and doctors who come out to help, teach and supervise (participants)," said Mark Marble, founder and president of AccesSurf. "It doesn’t matter what their disability is; we help them to be as functionally independent as possible, without them feeling like a burden on anyone."

In 2009, Jimenez was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome caused by the multiple injuries he suffered during his Army career. He had a spinal cord stimulator implanted in his back to help manage the pain.

"I was an active guy before and after my surgeries. I lost a lot of confidence; I didn’t know if I’d be the same guy I was," he said. "(AccesSurf) has given me my self-esteem back. After catching my first wave, I started feeling my strength come back."

AccesSurf was founded nearly six years ago, offering a Day at the Beach program for anyone with disabilities. As the event gained momentum, Marble noted an increase in participation by combat veterans. So two years ago he started a monthly Wounded Warriors Day at the Beach. It is usually held in Kalaeloa, but the program also periodically visits the beach at Hale Koa in Waikiki for stand-up paddling sessions.

Just like the regular Day at the Beach, the free program for military personnel and veterans provides adaptive surfing instruction and therapeutic water recreation activities. Marble and his volunteers supply the surfboards and adaptive equipment needed to accommodate participants.

"With the number of military men and women (coming back) from Iraq and Af­ghani­stan, we thought that they should have their own separate program, their own day of empowerment," he said.

The monthly event typically draws 18 to 30 participants.

Joanna Ellenbeck, 27, a noncommissioned Army officer, decided to participate in the Wounded Warriors Day at the Beach while visiting from Los Angeles.

"I had to come out," she said. "It hits home with me being out here with other people who understand what I’ve been through."

After three tours in Af­ghani­stan and Iraq, she suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

"When you’re out doing these tours, you see the worst part of human nature, and it’s amazing that an organization like (AccesSurf) exists to help us socialize and heal," Ellenbeck said.

Marble pointed out the Wounded Warriors Day at the Beach program is open to all branches of the military. On every third Wednesday of the month, participants come from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, the Army National Guard and Tripler Army Medical Center.

"Out here it doesn’t matter what branch or rank you are; we’re all wounded here," Jimenez said. "We all understand each other."