I’m excited to introduce Cienna, an incredible para surfer whose journey from Michigan to catching waves is nothing short of inspiring. After falling in love with surfing as a kid and later facing life in a wheelchair, she discovered adaptive surfing and never looked back. Now, she’s competing in para surfing and spreading the message that anyone can follow their passion, no matter the obstacles. We’ll hear about her journey, what surfing means to her, and her efforts to get parasurfing into the LA2028 Paralympic Games.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from and how you first got into surfing?
Hi! I’m from Michigan, USA aka the Great Lakes state. I vividly remember being about 3 years old, sat in front of the television with my dad in the 90s with my Barbies as he flicked through channels, he stopped on some surfing and I was mesmerized! After that all my Barbies became surfers! Growing up I was a fish in the water, on every family trip to the ocean I tried to convince my parents to let me learn to surf. Finally in middle school I got the green light and was hooked! My story took a little turn when I became a wheelchair user, I wasn’t really sure how I could still surf. On a trip to Cali I met Rocky McKinnon a pro surfer with an adaptive surfing program. He took me tandem surfing where we would paddle out together, catch a wave, he would pop up, scoop me up, and hold me up standing so I could experience surfing. I loved it! I really wanted to learn how to surf independently again though. He told me about para surfing. This year for my 30th birthday I was in Rincón, Puerto Rico and looked up adaptive surfing there. I found Roberto from Rincón Surf Academy and he took me out for my first lesson on my 30th birthday! I fell in love with the sport all over again! Since February I’ve been back twice to train with him as a competitive para surfer and recently got my own custom adaptive surf board made just for me!
How do you hope to inspire or influence other surfers, especially those just starting out?
Wow! I guess my big dream is to show other people with disabilities or chronic conditions that they can surf too! You can still do what you love, it just might look a little different. I’m so excited to share para surfing with the world and about what an incredible sport it is. In parasurfing everyone has different disabilities, so it’s super cool to see how everyone finds different ways to adapt the sport for them individually. The problem solving is next level!
What does surfing mean to you on a deeper level? Is it a sport, a lifestyle, or something else?
Wow, a big thing that motivated me to get back into surfing and really go for the para surfing was that a few years ago I was in the ICU and most of my doctors didn’t think I was going to make it. My biggest dream was just to catch another wave. So now that I’m able to, I owe it to myself to make that dream a reality. On the surface level I love surfing, the connection to the energy of the ocean and nature, but on a deeper level the ocean has this completely healing pull that I just can’t get enough of.
Do you remember the first time you caught a wave? What was that experience like?
The first time I caught a wave in middle school it felt like Christmas morning, but a thousand times better. It was this completely life changing magical moment. I didn’t sleep a wink the night before. From then on my favorite place to be was on a surfboard. As a para surfer, that first wave was about a million times more magical. It was a moment that I never thought I would have again becoming reality. Every single wave I catch now is just indescribable. The complete joy and peace I get surfing is completely unrivaled by anything else in life.
What’s the best piece of surf-related advice you've ever received?
The beauty of the surfing and especially para surfing community is on how welcoming and friendly it is! Victoria Feige is an incredible adaptive surfer and her advice and support has been completely wonderful. I actually use a diaphragmatic pacemaker to breathe for me when I’m not surfing, so when I surf I have to tell myself to breathe or I don’t, so I guess the best advice has come from my coach Roberto when we are surfing, he always tells me to feel the energy of the ocean and just breathe.
What’s your go-to surf music playlist? Anything you listen to before paddling out?
Oooooh I LOVE a good playlist. Nothing is better than a good bop! I think my go to playlist is definitely Walking On Sunshine radio/just letting Spotify suggest songs after starting there. If not I adore some good sunshine indie pop type music!
We spoke to Cienna about the decision not to see parasurfing selected for inclusion in the LA2028 Paralympic Games, despite having approval from both the Paralympics and the International Surfing Association (ISA). Cienna say this decision feels particularly disheartening given the LA2028's theme of "together," which should ideally embrace all sports that embody the Paralympic spirit. In response, Joshy Bogle has initiated a powerful Change.org petition that is gathering momentum, with each signature bringing us one step closer to reversing this oversight. Our community is determined, and together, we believe we can bring parasurfing to the LA2028 games, truly living up to the promise of inclusivity and unity. You can sign this petition at the link here
We are so lucky to have you, Cienna! and please ask her any questions you may have xxx
SO excited to have you Cienna!!!! xx