Annie Grace

Surfer, Huntington Beach, CA

Annie Grace is a 9 year old 4th grader who loves surfing! She has high functioning autism which doesn’t define her but it’s simply a part of who she is. Although, she has found that surfing is completely therapeutic for her as she will often state surfing makes me feel good-calm…huge claim for someone with autism who battles with high levels of anxiety on a daily basis. You can be assured for this reason Annie will be a true surfer for life. Annie is adopted her siblings include, a 25 year old brother and a 19 year old sister. Her parents are divorced but she resides with her mom in Huntington Beach and has visits with her dad regularly. Annie was taken away from her biological mother at birth and placed in an infant foster care/adoption agency providing specialized homes and comprehensive programming for abused, abandoned, and neglected children. At 5 weeks of age she was placed in a foster home with a loving family before long Annie was adopted. Along the journey Annie’s mother noticed many difficulties in her development. Despite the fact Annie hadn’t been medically diagnosed, she began receiving therapy at the young age of 4 months due to troublesome eating abilities, developmental delays, and Sensory Integration. Soon thereafter, Annie was diagnosed with epilepsy,autism, heart murmur, and slight hearing impairments. Fortunately, Annie benefited immensely from early intervention for years daily receiving, ABA therapy, occupational, speech, & physical therapy, personal teachers, nutritionist, and a lot of love. New brain paths were created giving Annie a second chance to grow and develop along with a few surgeries. When Annie was 4 years old she experienced tandem surfing with a non profit organization for autistic kids for the first time. It was completely life changing! Everyday thereafter Annie awoke bright eyed and bushy tailed asking with excitement, “Can we go surfing today?” She had the stoke! At 5 years old she began playing around on a 7ft foam board. Her intense lust to surf generated her to be self taught and inspired others to do the same. Annie’s mother noticed surfing was changing the way Annie walked through life. It helped settle Annie in a natural miraculous way in every area she used to struggle in and it made her remarkably happy! Surfing helps balance her Sensory Integration so when Annie states “Salt water heals everything” she literally means it. Considering Annie’s many medical challenges she has to work extra hard academically and gets additional support in school but she is in a mainstream classroom doing quite well. Her teacher states, “Annie is your typical model student, very respectful, polite, compliant, and she has a sweet personality. She’s a great example for the other students to follow.” Annie is also quite popular at school and has a typical best friend who she surfs with everyday. As a competitive surfer, Annie surfs on the elementary school team “Smith Surfers” for Huntington Beach competing against other beach cities, currently they’re in 2nd place. She takes great pleasure in competing individually as well several times a month. She is also part of the Huntington Beach City Jr. Lifeguards. Annie now rides an AYO 4’8” future flex board. Surfing is a way of life for her, as you will find her after and before school at her local and favorite surf spot, the Huntington Beach Pier! The locals refer to Annie as the grom with the radiant smile and that’s what surfing does to Annie, makes her smile!

Annie about SurfEars: “SurfEars are part of my surf gear. I don’t surf without them. They are so comfortable and easy to use. I like that they are attached with a cord so you don’t loose them. I have had too many painful ear infections from being in the ocean everyday and I have had 3 surgeries to insert tubes in my ears. SurfEars helps keep the water out of my ears. I like that they protect my ears so I can still surf.”

PHOTO CREDITS:
Lisa Rodish, Anomaly Republic, Baja Billy, & WSA