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Surf Dog Ricochet is proud to announce her sponsorship of Jose Martinez, an army veteran and purple heart recipient who became a triple amputee after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan.Jose will be competing in the Ampsurf 2020 ISA World Para Surfing Championship on March 11-15 in San Diego, California.

The championship serendipitously falls on the same week Jose regained consciousness from a coma he had been in for 10 days after the blast in 2012. Seven soldiers in his unit who were with Jose when the tragedy struck will be reuniting with him on the beach… something they never thought possible, because at first, doctors told them Jose was dead.

Seven soldiers in his unit who were with Jose when the tragedy struck will be reuniting with him on the beach… something they never thought possible, because at first, doctors told them Jose was dead.

The battlefield is wrought with death and horrific injuries like Jose’s, and those who witness the atrocities often end up with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, flashbacks and more. As such, Ricochet will be on-site to offer emotional support to veterans if needed. She is a certified goal-directed therapy dog that has been helping wounded warriors and veterans with PTSD since 2009.

On March 3, 2012, Jose was on a foot patrol with members of the 2/3 Infantry Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan when he stepped on a 60-pound IED meant for a vehicle. The force of the blast threw him in the air and instantly amputated both his legs, right arm, a finger on his left hand and some internal organs. His unit worked feverishly to get him ready for an airlift to the hospital. 10 days later, against all odds, he woke up from a coma.

Jose was in the hospital for two years. He endured 21 invasive surgeries and months of aggressive therapies. Doctors told him he would never walk again, and he’d be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. But Jose wasn’t going to let anyone tell him what he could or could not do.

In 2014, Jose was introduced to surfing as part of his rehabilitation with the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. He didn’t surf prior to his accident, but now he says he can’t imagine life without it. He has become a dynamic competitor and respected athlete with impressive results in both local and national adaptive surfing competitions. He has entered 14 contests and won 13 gold, silver and bronze medals. The only contest he didn’t win was the first one he entered.

He recently became a member of Team USA’s Adaptive Surfing Team and will be surfing with them at this competition. A couple weeks ago he received a phone call from Team USA’s Captain, Christiaan “Otter” Bailey, inviting him to become part of the team. Christiaan has high hopes for Jose and assures him that one day he’ll be a world champion.

On the other paw, Christiaan also invited Ricochet to be an honorary member of the team due to her broad support of the adaptive surfing community. She became the first-ever canine-assisted surf therapy and adaptive surfing dog in 2009 when she jumped on the board of a 14-year-old boy with a spinal cord injury. “Ricochet started on the ground floor of adaptive surfing and has a long tradition of supporting adaptive surfers both in and out of the water”, Christiaan said. “We really appreciate the support Ricochet has given our movement over the last decade. Having her on the team is a well-deserved tribute to her roots and committed spirit.”

Christiaan, Jose and Ricochet have their sights on the prospect of Team USA being part of the Paralympics in 2028. But sadly, it won’t happen in Ricochet’s lifetime. “I take great comfort in knowing Ricochet’s legacy will live on through the sponsorship of athletes like Jose and Christiaan as we continue to support them individually, as a team and as adaptive surfing as a whole. It’s a privilege to be so closely associated with two of adaptive surfing’s most recognizable individuals”, said Judy Fridono, Ricochet’s guardian.

Jose and Ricochet have also joined forces to battle the suicide epidemic among veterans through Jose’s inspirational speaking and Ricochet’s emotional healing abilities. They also catch waves together to raise awareness of the healing power of the ocean and the healing power of a dog.

Approximately 22 veterans take their life by suicide every single day. “I almost killed myself three times and eight of my veteran friends have already taken their lives,” said Jose. “I was suicidal for a very long time. I hated life because of what happened to me. I hated life because of the continuance of my thought process of why me, why me, instead of what’s next. I’m still here for a reason, and that reason is my brothers and sisters in arms thinking their lives are over, because they aren’t. I thought mine was, but it was honestly just getting started. Thankfully I was able to save myself, and now I’m here trying to save everyone else”.

Now medically retired, Jose is married to his wife Liseth, who has been by his side throughout his recovery. Jose walks on prosthetic legs, drives, rock climbs, swims, surfs and anything else he wants to take on. Click the video at the top of the page to see him in action!

Jose is one of approximately 120 adaptive surfers from 24 nations who will be traveling to San Diego to compete in the four-day competition. Participants and attendees are invited to enter a free raffle hosted by Ricochet and Access Trax. Individuals will nominate teams or non-profits that are surfing in the championship for a chance to win a free outdoor lightweight modular pathway valued at $720. The portable pathway provides access to outdoor terrain such as sand at the beach. It was inspired by adaptive surfers like Jose and invented by two occupational therapists in California. Access Trax creates cost-effective and efficient solutions that families, adaptive sports organizations, and government entities can use for ADA compliance and accessibility. For more information go to https://accesstraxsd.com/

Jose and Ricochet invite you to get on board with them by attending the event or sharing this pictorial! Help Jose inspire more people with his resilience and astonishing feats and help Ricochet bark about human-animal intervention and the healing power of dogs. You will be changing and saving lives! High res photos available upon request.