Yesterday was one of the most humbling days of my life. The sun was out and the waves were fun—just an absolute cracker of a day. I was sharing a few waves with some friends in Dana Point when I heard this old salty local murmur, “What a legend.” I ignored him at first, as I thought he was just another crazy old man talking to himself. Shortly after, I realized he was referring to a standup paddler just outside the takeoff zone. But this wasn’t just any old SUP’er. This guy didn’t have any arms. I couldn’t believe my eyes. “What a legend is right,” I replied.
Feeling super inspired, I was determined to find out who this guy was. After doing a bit of digging, I found out the SUP’er was 31-year-old Jonas Letieri from Santos, Brazil. Letieri has been surfing since he was 13, but in 2011, something happened that would dramatically change the course of his life forever.
On October 11, 2011, Letieri was working as a volunteer for his church that he designed and help build. While installing a church sign, Letieri was seriously electrocuted, resulting in both of his arms having to be amputated from the elbow down. Letieri, a true lover of the ocean, was determined not to let the accident get in the way of his passion.
“That’s my life,” Letieri told the OC Register. “Being in the ocean and surfing with my friends.”
After the accident, Letieri and his father designed a paddle attached to a steel ring that fit around Letieri’s stubbed arm. Over time, he learned to surf with it.
Among the thousands of people moved by Jonas’ story, Jim Terrell, owner of Orange County company Quickblade Paddles, was inspired to help and made him new lightweight custom paddle.
“It changed my whole life, this paddle,” said Letieri. “My first paddle was made by steel rings. It was so heavy. Much too heavy, with a lot of tape and stuff. Now I can stay for hours paddling and paddling and I don’t feel so much the weight and I don’t feel pain. We are still working. Every time we are talking, he comes with a new idea to do something better.”
Letieri is now spending the summer in Orange County, working out with Performance Paddling Training Club in Dana Point and preparing for the Molokai to Oahu World Paddleboard Championships. Additionally, he is a motivational speaker of sorts, as he frequently shares his message with church and youth groups around Brazil and California.
“I try to smile and surf the Earth,” Letieri said. “I love my life. I love to be alive. Being here is like a dream come true. I thought that I [had] some problems, but I can see I have no problems. I think this is the best part of my life.”
