Day: June 24, 2021

Surf dog helps Army Veteran Jose Martinez catch waves

Surf Dog Ricochet helps triple amputee combat veteran catch waves by gifting him a custom made adaptive surfboard. Photo: Surf Dog Ricochet, used with permission.

Surf Dog Ricochet is proud to announce her sponsorship of a custom adaptive surfboard she gifted to Army Veteran Jose Martinez, which was shaped by the non-profit, One More Wave. Ricochet has been sponsoring Jose for several years now thanks to her supporters. She is honored to include a surfboard to the sponsorship. (Surf Dog Ricochet, 2021)

Jose Martinez, a purple heart recipient, became a triple amputee after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. Jose has been competing in adaptive surfing competitions since 2017. He is a member of Team USA’s Adaptive surfing team, and later this year he will be entering the US Open of Adaptive Surfing in Oceanside, CA and the 2021 Ampsurf ISA World Para Surfing Championship in Pismo Beach, CA. 

“The custom board that One More Wave shaped has made a big difference,” says Jose. “I’m able to paddle better and make better turns. I can’t wait to use it in competition. I can’t thank Ricochet enough for her continued support. In return we have changed people’s minds and hearts, showing them anything is possible.” 

In 2014, Jose was introduced to surfing as part of his rehabilitation with the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. He did not surf prior to his accident, but now he says he cannot imagine life without it. He has become a dynamic competitor and respected athlete with impressive results in both local and national adaptive surfing competitions. He has won gold, silver, and bronze medals. 

Jose and Ricochet have also joined forces to battle the suicide epidemic among veterans through Jose’s inspirational speaking and Ricochet’s emotional healing abilities. They also catch waves together to raise awareness of the healing power of the ocean and the healing power of a dog. 

Jose has his sights on going to the Paralympics in 2028. But sadly, it will not happen in Ricochet’s lifetime because she is 13 years old now. “I take great comfort in knowing Ricochet’s legacy will live on through the sponsorship of Jose. It’s a privilege to be so closely associated with one of adaptive surfing’s most recognizable individuals”, said Judy Fridono, Ricochet’s guardian.

“Surf Dog Ricochet and Judy have been spreading stoke and joy to the adaptive surfing community for years,” said One More Wave founder, Alex West. “Everywhere they go, they bring knowledge, advocacy, and intention to a population of athletes too often left aside. Getting to partner with a community leader like Surf Dog Ricochet and provide a custom adaptive board to a living legend like Jose Martinez is an honor and joy for us as an organization.”

Ricochet is a certified goal-directed therapy dog that has been helping wounded warriors and veterans with PTSD since 2009. She is also an honorary member of Team USA due to her broad support of the adaptive surfing community. She became the first-ever canine-assisted surf therapy and adaptive surfing dog in 2009 when she jumped on the board of a 14-year-old boy with a spinal cord injury.

One More Wave is a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit that provides wounded and disabled veterans with customized adaptive surfing equipment and fosters growth in the surf therapy community. Since its establishment in 2015, One More Wave has awarded over 500 grants that empower vets to find healing in surf zones across the country. There are many surf therapy organizations out there, but One More Wave is the only one that builds boards soup-to-nuts through a 27-step process to provide veterans with the adaptive tools they need to mend themselves.

Surf Dog Ricochet with Army Veteran Jose Martinez. Photo: Surf Dog Ricochet, used with permission.

Bluegrass Pride builds momentum toward final weekend

Porch Pride: 5th anniversary celebration will feature more than six hours of livestreams and performances by LGBTQ+ and allied roots musicians. Photo: google

Bay Area non-profit Bluegrass Pride will culminate its month-long LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, Porch Pride, with a two-day virtual music festival featuring more than six hours of livestreams and performances by LGBTQ+ and allied bands, artists, and musicians. On June 26 and 27 starting at 3p.m. PDT / 6p.m. EDT the organization will celebrate five years of Bluegrass Pride (BGP) with artists such as Crys Matthews, BOOJUM, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Stephanie Anne Johnson, Rainbow Girls, and more. (Bluegrass Pride, 2021)

In 2020, Bluegrass Pride board member Jake Blount first proposed the idea for Porch Pride as an avenue through which BGP could support and uplift LGBTQ+ artists through the industry-shuttering pandemic, offering direct relief and performance opportunities to a community already disproportionately impacted by the realities of COVID-19. In its first year, the event raised more than $23,000 to be shared and distributed amongst the artists and bands on the lineup. Bluegrass Pride is hoping to outraise that amount in 2021, already reaching and doubling their goal for financial sponsorships.

The public is invited to tune in on June 26 and 27 from 3p.m. to 6p.m. PDT / 6p.m. to 9p.m. EDT for Porch Pride: 5th Anniversary Celebration. All Porch Pride events are free to view and attend, but audience members are encouraged to DONATE to support every single artist on Porch Pride’s month-long lineup. Watch and give on the Bluegrass Pride website, or watch via their YouTube channel or Facebook page.

For Bluegrass Pride fans and members local to the Bay Area, an in-person Porch Pride Watch Party & Jam will be held at Spark Social SF (601 Mission Bay Boulevard North, San Francisco, CA 94158) on June 27 at 2p.m. PDT. During and after the livestream watch party enjoy food, drinks, Double Rainbow ice cream, fellowship with fellow BGPers and jamming, plus a performance by local roots music scene stalwart Karen Heil’s old-time string band, the Knuckle Knockers.

Porch Pride: 5th Anniversary Celebration full schedule:

Saturday, June 26:

Mya Byrne
Ben Garnett
Crys Matthews
BOOJUM
Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Gangstagrass

Sunday, June 27:

Willi Carlisle
Maddie Witler
Amanda Fields
Hasee Ciaccio & Friends
Stephanie Anne Johnson
Rainbow Girls

“It’s so incredible to look back on all that Bluegrass Pride has accomplished in the past 5 years. From launching that first award-winning float in the SF Pride Parade in 2017 to now running our own month-long Pride festival, it truly is a testament to the strength of our community and our desire to create positive change in the world of roots music. I think Porch Pride is the perfect way to celebrate that.” – BGP Executive Director, Kara Kundert.

Bluegrass Pride: Our mission is to recruit, encourage, and support LGBTQ+ bluegrassers of all levels, promoting their advancement and acceptance within all areas of the bluegrass music industry and musical community. We aim to uplift the genre of bluegrass as a whole to receive LGBTQ+ folks openly, and to promote allyship with all marginalized peoples within the industry and musical community. We do so by creating opportunities for community building and resources for musical skill development, such as concerts, jam sessions, showcases, festivals, parades, tutorials, recording, and more. Bluegrass Pride is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization, EIN 83-3224672. All donations are deemed tax-deductible absent any limitations on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer.