Casey Proud, competitive adaptive surfer

Casey's Story

An adaptive surfing journey

Born and raised in Honolulu, Casey Proud is a world champion paraplegic prone surfer competing against the world’s best adaptive surfers. Casey was injured in a snowboarding accident in 2017 and thought he might never catch another wave…however, thanks to the help and encouragement of his friends, family, and the adaptive surfing community, now he lives to ride waves and spread aloha once again. Casey has since won the 2022 ISA Para-Surfing World Championship and he’ll be surfing to win his second in 2024. Living in Oceanside, CA, Casey can be found shredding waves throughout SoCal with his wonderful wife Thera.

Accomplishements

A timeline of Casey’s successes so far

Casey’s First Wave Post-Injury

26 August 2017

After Casey’s injury snowboarding at Mt. Shasta, he doesn’t think he will ever surf again. His wife Thera signs him up for a Life Rolls On event at Huntington Beach. After he’s pushed into his first wave, he realizes he can turn and paddle by himself. Casey proceeds to catch the next waves on his own, starting his adaptive surfing journey.

Casey’s First Competition

22 June 2021

On a whim, Casey enters the US National Championships due to Thera discovering it has lax qualification requirements from COVID. Casey places 2nd. This result qualifies Casey to surf for the US National Surf Team, however Casey instead chooses to surf for his home nation of Hawaii.

Casey’s First Win

14 November 2021

Casey wins both the Prone Unassist and Open divisions of the Adaptive Surf League Santa Cruz Pro at Steamer Lane.

2nd, ISA World Para Surfing Championship

11 December 2021

Surfing for Team Hawaii at the ISA World Para Surfing Championship at Pismo Beach, Casey makes the final and places 2nd, missing gold by 0.13 points. Not bad for his first Worlds!