Ty's Surf Dreams

MISSION
Help us support Ty, our beloved friend and chosen family, pursue his professional, Paralympic surf dreams.

*FUNDING GOALS: $55,000 (full budget description here )
GOAL 1: Reaching $15,000 funds Ty and the family through initial training & the first stop of the Pro tour in Hawaii.
GOAL 2: Reaching $25,000 funds the remaining two stops on the pro tour, Oceanside and Pismo Beach
GOAL 3: Reaching $45,000 funds Ty's customized surf leg
GOAL 4: Reaching $55,000 partially funds Ty's training, physical therapy, and media/storytelling
GOAL 5: Additional funds directly support the continuation of Ty's professional career
ULTIMATE GOAL: Ty is funded to surf professionally so that he and his family can continue to live, heal, and blaze this glorious trail

*Rather than skimp on budget or have Ty and his family struggle, we are advocating for full and genuine support of this journey, which means that his family is also supported during this time, his support and volunteer network is resourced, and his needs are truly met so Ty can focus on this dream. 

STORY

Chapter 1 - Beginnings of a Bond

My name is David Malana. I am someone who wants what's right in the world, and I have a story to tell you about my dear friend and chosen brother Ty. It all started at the beach in LA.

The year was 2020. Remember 2020, y'all?! Trump, COVID, and a world up in arms together about racism in unprecedented ways. Such hopes for change.  Black Lives Matter protests in front of the American Embassy in Germany. "Say his name...GEORGE FLOYD!" being shouted by white people in Santa Monica. Never seen anything like it.

From that year of years, Color the Water  was born. "Free lessons for all BIPOC." A way to  heal deep wounds we never knew we had in the ocean, a place we never thought we could . A resistance born from trauma, and grown in defiant joy. It was through CTW that I met Ty and his family.

I saw Ty on Instagram [email redacted]fers posted this  photo of him.

91 weeks ago...wow

I clicked his profile and commented directly on the page. You can see it right there at the at bottom. This hero of a man really replied to me!
"preciate u bro. I’m literally headed to your site now to sign up to catch some waves with u." Yessir. Santa Monica in front of the Air BnB.

Lizelle and I had A LOT of people to teach that day. It was our usual lessons, a group lesson for a DEI group, our first lesson for a young boy who came with his mom, someone who had come from San Diego specifically to learn with us, and so many more. To this day, what an iconic photo.

Thats Ty with his baby, Jas sitting nearby, the CTW Family around us, and me with the purple board.

Seeing Ty surf is an incredible thing. First, it's the way he catches waves. He has ways of managing the most critical parts of waves that none of us have ever seen. He has this move that Lizelle called the Philly Roll (Ty and his wife Jas are from West Philly) where he gets flipped by a wave but somehow manages to come out riding. And, to see him stand... well it has us all inspired to do more with our lives. Then, there's what happens around him when he surfs. People are moved. People show love. People micro aggress... and Ty handles it all with such grace. It's an honor to know this man and his beautiful family.

Ty surfing always has me thinking "I need to do more with my life"

We stood there watching Ty, in awe, as most are. Who is this man and how did he get here? In front of us is an evidently strong and clearly caring Black father, husband, and man. What's the story behind all this? We would soon find out. 

(To be continued in updates under CHAPTER 2 | Ty's Tides...)