2022 has been a year of transitions for the SMA. Our fearless leader for the last decade, Mary Showstark, PAC stepped down from her role as executive director and is being replaced by Kure beach heavy, Deric Weiss, MD, currently residing in Wilmington, NC. Mary helped transition us into the digital age and navigated us through
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On March 25, 1996, on an average day at Zuma Beach, 17 year-old Jesse Billauer dropped into a wave at the punchy California beach break. He pulled inside a barrel and got thrown headfirst into a shallow sandbar. The impact broke his sixth cervical vertebrae, and he instantly became a quadriplegic. At the time he was one of the
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A 32-year-old otherwise healthy, former Division I swimmer was surfing a longboard in 2-3 foot fickle East Coast waves. After one ride he was caught inside near shore in approximately 2-3ft of water and pulled his board in close to keep from flying out and striking other surfers. As the wave crested and broke, he grasped the leash
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Bill Jones left this earthly world on Wednesday, August 3. He was a father, grandfather, brother, friend, Eagle Scout, avid surfer, and an all-around “cool dude”. Born April 20, 1948, in Worcester, Massachusetts to Dorothy and Elmer Jones. He discovered his passion for the ocean when they moved to California in 1960. Bill
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Surfer’s myelopathy is a perplexing condition in which young, healthy, first-time surfers develop a non-traumatic spinal cord injury, sometimes with permanent neurologic sequelae. Why first-time surfers? What is the pathophysiology? What is unique about surfing? Understanding more about this rare but serious condition will help
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As per usual, it was a great SMA Mag Bay group with lots of new friends being made and a fun time for all. New attendee Todd Moravitz mentioned that the evening sessions were like attending interesting TED talks! Our thanks to Dani Vinn for a great job coordinating the AV for the talks!
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