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Christiaan Bailey

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Christiaan Bailey
Personal information
Born (1981-03-31) March 31, 1981 (age 43)
Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
ResidenceSanta Cruz, California / Costa Rica / Honokaa, Hawaii
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg)
Surfing career
Years active1987 – present
SponsorsRoush Creations, Volcom, Electric Sunglasses, Box Wheelchairs, GoPro, Fox Suspension, Bones, Santa Cruz
Major achievements1st paraplegic to win the WSA Championships, 1st paraplegic to ride Mavericks, only paralyzed professional big wave surfer in the world.
Surfing specifications
StanceRegular (natural) foot
Shaper(s)Eric Roush (Surftech/Roush Creations)
Quiver5'10" – 6'6"
Favorite wavesHossegor (France), Steamer Lane (Santa Cruz), Killers (Safi, Morocco), Puerto Escondido (Mexico)
Website[1][permanent dead link]

Christiaan "Otter" Bailey (born March 31, 1981, Santa Cruz, California), is an American professional surfer, known for his experience as a surf safari guide and skill as a big wave surfer and skateboarder. Bailey grew up in the Santa Cruz, California area and excelled as a semi-pro surfer and skateboarder. He and his family departed for France when he was young, where he attended the American School of Paris.

Bailey moved back to Santa Cruz in the fall of 2003. He was a professional surfer and skateboarder, who spent much of his time in Central America and west Africa as a back-country surf guide. On July 23, 2006, during the filming of a skateboarding video at Derby skatepark in Santa Cruz, Bailey crashed on his skateboard, fracturing several vertebrae in his back (L3, L4, S3), damaging his spinal cord in the process, which left him paralyzed from the waist down as a result.

Since his injury, Bailey's sponsors have continued to support him, giving him the opportunity to surf on tour. He participates in expression sessions on various legs of several different pro and semi-pro tours; including the WSL(World Surf League) WQS/WCT (World Qualifying Series & World Championship Tour), Western Surfing Association tour, National Scholastic Surfing Association tour and Volcom Crustaceous Series events.


Since his injury in July 2006, Bailey has gone on to become Captain of USA Surfing, is a two time USA National Champion (2009,2017), 5 time ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship medalist (2015-Silver, 2016-Silver & Team Silver, 2017 Silver & Team Bronze). He has surfed in expression sessions during the O'Neill Coldwater Classic (2006-12,15,16), US Open of Surfing (2007-16), Hurley Pro at Lowers WCT (2008-11,12,14) Reef Panama Classic (2007-08, 2010), Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (2009,11) Globe WCT Fiji (2010,11) Quicksilver Pro Hossegor (2008-10), NSSA National Championships (2007), WSA National Championships (2008-10) and the Volcom Crustacious Tour Series (2008-11). Bailey was the first paralyzed person to win the WSA Championships (Trestles 2009), as well as the first paralyzed person to surf "Mavericks" (Half Moon Bay, California). In March 2010, Christiaan Bailey and Aaron Fotheringham were selected by the IPC or International Paralympic Committee to be a part of "Team Extreme" for the Vancouver Paralympic Opening Ceremonies, showcasing the new sport of chairskating at BC Place Stadium in front of 73,000 people. Bailey is currently one of only two professional "chairskaters", and currently remains the only paralyzed professional big wave surfer in the world.

He is also active in many international NGO's and disability related non profit organizations. Including being CEO of the Ocean Healing Group, a non-profit (501c3) dedicated to providing once in a lifetime adaptive sports adventures in Costa Rica, to children who use wheelchairs and their parents. Bailey is an ambassador for the Life Rolls On foundation as well, a non-profit (501c3) that promotes active lifestyles for young people who have sustained spinal cord injuries. Is a coach at Ability First Wheelchair Sports Camp

8 A Cure is Coming

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