Surfers Healing returns to Virginia Beach this weekend at the oceanfront, founder Izzy Paskowitz talks about the power of surfing for autistic children

InterviewByYiorgo

Surfers Healing Virginia Beach is proud againtoputonthisincredible,magicalsurfingeventforchildrenwithautismandtheir families, allowing them a hands on, riding the waves experience like no other It all takesplacethisweekend August18th-19th, between4th-5thstreets.

“It’s heartwarming, every year to see the looks on the parents’ faces and the excitement on the athletes faces, every time they walktothewater,getonthatsurfboardwith our amazing surfer volunteers and ride the waves together.” said Director of Surfers Healing Virginia Beach Scott Cohen. “We wantasmanypeopleaspossibletobeaware ofwhatweoffer TheTidewatercommunity isextremelygivingwiththeirresourcesand thevolunteersthathelptomakeourannual event successful every year For that, we’re all very grateful. I also want everyone to know that all are welcome to our free event this weekend. Come on out and cheer our athletesastheyridethewaves.”

We are fortunate here in the Hampton Roads Area that Surfers Healing Virginia Beach was founded 18 years ago and this weekend promises to be an exciting weekendofsurfingfortheautisticchildren,with food, fun, vendors and a 5K run. You can getmoreinfoat:https://www.surfershealingvb.org/

Yiorgo: With us on the phone is founder of Surfers Healing Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz. Thank you Izzy for all these years of giving autistic children an opportunity of a lifetime to ride the waves and be one with the ocean CanyoutellusaboutSurfersHealing happeninginVirginiaBeachthisweekend?

Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz: It’s my pleasure.It’swhyI’monthisplanet OurVirginia Beach camp is a two day event, averaging about 220 children per day, per camp It’s a funeventwithmanyactivitiesandresource booths.It’sabeautifulbeach,Ilovethelocation with the small, fun waves that we can maximize our efforts in the water with the children. It’s an interesting dynamic, with anamazingsurfcommunitythatlovestheir wavesandthesurfcontestthatgoeswithit It’s a great location for surfing and it’s like Las Vegas on the beach for all the tourism thatgoeson

Y:HowdidtheSurfersHealingcampstart inVirginiaBeach?

IP: We have the camp in Virginia Beach because the wife of Paul Vaugh, one of the local surfers that taught a lot of people to surf had passed away years ago, and his wife wanted to donate some money in his memory.Iaskedher,wellcanwecomeoutto VirginiaBeachandspendthemoneylocally? And that’s how autism surfing started in Virginia Beach When you walk up to the camp, there is a billboard with a collage of picturesofPaulridingthewaves.

Y: How can people make contributions, becomevolunteers,etc.?

IP: I would like for people to watch the videos and pictures at https://www.surfershealing.org/Wearealwayslookingforpart- nerships and donations and after all these years, to maintain what we do and take us intothenext25years.

Y:Tellusaboutyourearlylifegrowingup

IP: I had a very unique experience. My father was a WWII Navy veteran, Stanford educated doctor, and we lived in a camper that sleeps six. We were poor as church micebecausemyfatherjustwantedtotravel aroundtheUnitedStates,MexicoandIsrael to surf There were 11 of us and when you stuff 11 people in a camper that sleeps 6, we were very close to each other. I loved it. We are half Mexican, half Jewish and when I was 13 we traveled to New York City in our camper for my Bar mitzvah and celebrated our Jewish traditions on the beach and wherever we were. We didn’t know any different We could see people living in houses, driving fancy cars and we wanted that but everyday was so unique to us We would surf, surf, surf but then explore and meetpeople

Y:Youwentontobecomeaprosurfer.

IP: I was a really good surfer And really, reallyhandsome IwasaprosurferandIhad endorsements AtthetopofmycareerIhad a great relationship with Nike I was in ads with BoJackson, Agassi, Michael Jordan,it wasincredible,butIhadIsaiah.

Y: Because you had gotten married and startedafamily

IP: I got married very young to the prettiest girl in town and I just wanted to be normal like everyone else. We had our first child,abeautifuldaughterIsreaella,andour second child Isaiah was autistic. That was thewrenchinthegearsforme Ididn’tknow howtodealwithautismatallasayoungman and providing for my family was very, very difficultbecauseIhadnoeducation

Y: Why did you and your wife start SurfersHealing?

IP: It was a dark place in my mind and a hole in my heart I had really thin skin and everything really bothered me and it hurt. One day I took Isaiah in the water with me and everything changed. I wish I had taken him in the water sooner The parents these