I'm Hunter Pochop, AKA "Wave Hunter." I'm a 14-year-old paraplegic adaptive surfer and skater. I  was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Over the years, I have had 20 surgeries, seven being brain surgeries, that have allowed me to be as active as I am today. I am part of #teamBox and #teamCAF,  and I am a member of the Stoke for Life Jr. Adaptive Surf Team.

 

I started adaptive sports when I was three years old. I have been on the local wheelchair basketball and rugby teams in San Diego County, California, as well as learning many adaptive sports at summer camps in both San Diego and Chico, CA. I have also competed in the WCMX (wheelchair motocross) World Championships twice. In 2016, I took first place in the WCMX World Championships in Texas in the beginner division. 

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When I was five years old, I surfed for the very first time with Life Rolls On, and have surfed with them every year since. Starting in the summer of 2018, I began to be serious about surfing and started competing so that I can make the US Adaptive Surf Team, and eventually represent the US in the 2028 Paralympic Games. My first competition was the beginning of August 2018 with the Western Surf Association, and I have been competing with them monthly since them. Now, I surf every week with my coach, Ryan Eick.