Attendance triples at annual autism surfing event 0
The Atlantic Ocean might have been choppy and cold, but that didn’t stop 11-year-old David Calderone from plunging into the waves for some surfing.
He was one of nearly 80 autistic boys and girls who spent several hours last week surfing on Brick Beach 3, thanks to the efforts of the lifeguards and township recreation department staff who volunteered their time.
David not only surfed, he also rode a Waverunner, his mother Brenda Calderone said.
“When we got in the car, he said ‘Mommy, I had the best day ever!,'” she said.
The weather was iffy on July 8. A southwest wind dropped the ocean temperature to a chilly 68 degrees. The seas were running 2 to 3 feet, a little bit more than beach captain Dan Santaniello had hoped for. Lightning flickered on the horizon and the event had to be delayed for about half an hour, he said.