Surfers compete to battle Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Dana McDaniel had a few thoughts racing through her mind as she paddled for waves on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier during the women’s final heat today.First, the first-time competitor was thinking “don’t look like a kook.” Then she remembered to do her yoga breathing.

But most of all, her thoughts were with her mother, who is in the final stages of battling ALS, a disease that takes a person’s motor functions away, leaving them paralyzed and virtually trapped in their own bodies. ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with it in 1939.

A common first symptom of the disease is a painless weakness in a hand, foot, arm or leg, which occurs in more than half of all cases. Other early symptoms include swallowing speech or difficulty walking.

“Everyday is fearful, because you don’t know what’s going to not work next,” said McDaniel. “It makes me want to do that extra paddle, that much harder.”

McDaniel was one of about 200 surfers – some who had never competed in their lives – to come out and support a contest called SALSA (Surfers Against Lou Gehrig’s Disease Surfing Alliance), which aims at raising awareness and money for the disease.

The contest is put on by Catherine Vasquez – a teenager who first put on the contest last year as a school project while at Edison High School in Huntington Beach. Inspired by those who supported the cause, and all the family and friends affected by the disease who reached out to her, she decided to put the contest on again.

Surfers were treated to waves in the 3-to 4-foot range. Though heavy fog delayed the contest for an hour in the morning, the skies cleared up for a beautiful spring day.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW FROM THE EVENT.

“It’s been a really fun day, I’m super stoked,” said Vasquez. “A lot of people are out here supporting people with the disease.”

Last year she raised $10,000, and she’s hoping to exceed that amount this year. A final tally has yet to be made.

Surf companies stepped up to help with the raffle. Robert August donated a signed skateboard, Body Glove hooked up some wetsuits, and Ocean Minded gave some sandals.

Wade Carden has entered the event for the past two years. While he hasn’t been affected personally by someone with ALS, he was inspired by Vasquez’ efforts and wanted to do his part to help.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” he said. “When you see someone her age doing it, it inspired you. As long as it’s going on, I’ll be doing it.”

To find out more or to donate, go to www.salsasurfing.org