Adaptive Sports Spotlight: Jose Solorio, an Adaptive Surfer

At Coastal Adaptive Sports, we love meeting new people through our events! And about 5 years ago, we met our long-time friend and adaptive surfer, Jose Solorio. We had the pleasure of interviewing Jose for our blog!

Jose is originally from Mexico and has been living in the United States since 1993. He lives in the Myrtle Beach area and has a 19 year old daughter who is in college studying physical therapy. Jose likes photography and often takes photos out in nature. He also likes to make bracelets and work with wood in his garage when he has the time. And, he is also an adaptive surfer with Coastal Adaptive Sports!

When asked how long he has been participating with Coastal Adaptive Sports, Jose responded that he’s been attending events for about 5 years now. He found out about CAS through mutual friends and started learning about events.

Please describe your first experience with CAS.

Jose: I don’t remember if it was surfing or basketball, but the one that made me feel better was surfing. The first time I went surfing, they cancelled because not many people showed up. But I showed up anyway because I didn’t know it was cancelled. When I got there, it was just me and a mom with her little boy who had driven a long way to participate in the event. We called Luke, and he lived closed by, so he showed up. He took the little boy out in the water, and then me. We were there for about an hour, and the water ended up taking us a mile away from where we started. Luke carried me all the way back to my chair. When I asked him “why are you doing this for people like me?” Luke said “It’s fun and I don’t want anyone to miss out on surfing!”

What’s your favorite part about events with CAS?

Jose: My favorite part about Coastal Adaptive is enjoying time with all of the people; seeing familiar faces and meeting new people. People drive from all over to come for the surfing or to hang out and share stories. It makes me feel like I’m in a place where I belong. Meeting people I can relate to has encouraged me to try new things.

What would you tell others (participants) who are hesitant about signing up for an event with CAS?

Jose: Fear is in everyone. I had a friend who didn’t want to go surfing and I told him that there are always at least 20 people around you that are here to help, so don’t be afraid. Some people don’t have transportation, but if you call Coastal Adaptive, they’ll get you transportation so you can go to events. Also, be sure to ask as many questions as you want, because there is always somebody who is willing to help for whatever you may need.

How has CAS helped you?

Jose: It’s helped me stay healthy and in shape. Basketball and bike riding is good exercise. I’ve lost maybe 20 to 30 lbs since I’ve been doing activities with CAS. We’re like a big family. If you post something on the Facebook page, whatever it is, the community will get together and help you with whatever they can. Everyone helps each other with whatever you need; you just have to ask.

If you’re interested in being an adaptive sports volunteer with CAS, be sure to contact us and sign up for an event! You can also view our events calendar for more information.

Wanna get involved? You may also volunteer to help out with a Coastal Adaptive Sports event by clicking here.