By Tim Hawk
Nancy Smith stood at the ocean’s edge watching every wave her 8-year-old granddaughter caught.
“She loves it, she loves surfing,” said Smith as she watched Kayleigh Brown ride a wave to shore then turn right back around to catch another one.
Brown, of Northfield, has autism and was one of more than 100 people with autism or other developmental disabilities who gathered on the Pennsylvania Avenue beach in Atlantic City Friday morning to enjoy three hours of smiles, cheers and surfing.
Heart of Surfing is a local non-profit organization that offers free adaptive surfing sessions to families with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Friday was a bonus surf day thanks to Heart of Surfing’s platinum sponsor Hard Rock Hotel & Casino which, in May, donated $5,000 for equipment and supplies to help kickoff the season.
“We partner with a lot of community organizations,” said George Goldhoff, president of Hard Rock Atlantic City. “This is one of our favorites.”
And the number of volunteers, more than 50, who showed up on a sun-splashed morning to lend a hand and their voices to cheer on the surfers showed just that.
First in the water was Goldhoff, along with Bob Fertsch, co-founder of the Heart of Surfing, who held hands with one of the surfers as they walked out into the crashing waves. For the next 45 minutes Goldhoff stayed in the water and gave out high fives to most everyone that rode by.
“I think being in nature, especially in the ocean, just helps people,” said Goldhoff.
Heart of Surfing was founded in 2014 by Bob and his wife Cindy for their son Jamie, who had autism and loved the waves. Sadly, Jamie passed away suddenly in 2020, at the age of 25.
To honor their son’s legacy they continue to work with families with children who are on the autism spectrum or have other developmental disabilities.
Cindy said their mission isn’t to turn them into expert surfers. Rather they meet each surfer where they are and strive to create a positive and safe experience, while adding in some tips and words of encouragement.
“For some, especially those with mobility issues, that means enjoying the movement of the water while laying on the board,” she said. “However, some kids pop right up like they were born to surf. Most are somewhere in between. I’ve learned to never count anyone out though. Many have an unmatched level of determination and perseverance. Eventually, they stand up, even if it takes years and countless tries to get there. We also try to stack the odds in their favor by using extra wide boards and riding the tails to stabilize the board and prevent nose dives.”
Many of the kids crave the movement of the water, explained Cindy, because it embodies them, offering sensory input they may crave. “People with autism spectrum disorder often have sensory integration issues. The currents and waves of the ocean can be soothing and calming.”
Rylee Howerton, 17, of Vineland is no stranger to the benefits of salt water. The eight year veteran of the Heart of Surfing is diagnosed with being on the autism spectrum and rode the biggest and best wave of her surfing career.
“I was so high up in the air and I just dropped in on it and stayed on the board,” she said with a smile as big and bright as her personality.
The Lady of Mercy Academy senior will be heading off to The College of New Jersey next year as a double major studying deaf education and STEM education.
Howerton said the organization has taught her to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, especially when it comes to the bigger waves and soon she will be transitioning from student to volunteer and is excited to help others surf.
She will be joining a star studded cast of volunteers that includes pro surfer Rob Kelly who watched the action and gave instructions from the shore.
“They’re doing awesome,” said volunteer and surf instructor Jason Levy, of Margate, adding that some of the kids have been coming out for years and have become very good.
“It’s a challenging sport,” he said with a laugh. “Some people do it their whole life and they still stink at it.”
While explaining surfing and the challenges it offers he quickly compared it to the sport of basketball.
He said what differentiates surfing from a lot of other sports is the playing field. In basketball the floor and hoop are stationary where in surfing things are constantly moving around, underneath and over you.
And that’s what makes what happens on the waves even more special for everyone involved.
“Whether they stand up or whether they just ride on their belly, just to see them smile and make that connection is really what we’re looking for.
