One morning during a quiet surf session, one man stood out from the rest. He had a long, white, Gandalf-esque beard that dripped with seawater. Despite being more than 65 years old, he took waves with a grace that could only be mastered with years of his craft. And from that moment on, he was known to me as the legendary Santa Claus of the Sea.
He was graceful. But this image stands in stark contrast to the current dominant narrative of aging.
The Reality of Aging: Physical and Psychological Ailments
Many health professionals are familiar with the list of common aging-related challenges, including:
- Sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss)
- Impaired balance and proprioception
- Increased risk of falls and fractures
- Joint degeneration
- Reduced cardiovascular endurance
Alongside these physiological changes, we see a rise in mental health challenges:
- Social isolation
- Depression
- Loss of autonomy and identity
- Cognitive decline
These factors compound each other. For example, a loss of balance leads to a fall, which results in injury, which leads to hospitalization, immobility, and sometimes institutionalization, which all accelerate decline.
Modern rehabilitation techniques try to interrupt this cycle, but traditional therapy methods, particularly in geriatric care, often rely on repetitive, low-engagement exercises: resistance bands, parallel bars, leg lifts in clinics. These are essential in many cases, but they’re not enough. My grandma was prescribed chair exercises, but I want her to be able to strengthen herself in practical ways.
Adherence is a chronic challenge. Motivation wanes. And much too often, patients disengage.
So what if we reframed therapy? What if we made it joyful?
Surf and Ocean Therapy: Reconnecting Mind, Body, and Environment
Surf therapy is a movement-based, nature-integrated intervention that merges physical rehabilitation with emotional renewal.
It may sound radical, even niche, but it can gain traction for good reason.
Surfing involves:
- Dynamic balance — reacting to ever-changing surfaces
- Core and limb strength — paddling, popping up, stabilizing
- Coordination and reaction time — reading waves, adjusting positions
- Cardiovascular exertion
- Mental presence — engaging with unpredictability in real time
All of this takes place in a natural environment that stimulates the senses and evokes meaning: the ocean. The ocean is something that soothes the mind, the beach a bonding place for communities, and the water something that reminds people — especially older adults — that they are still capable and evolving.
Evidence Supporting Surf Therapy for Older Adults
Though still an emerging field, several pilot programs and studies are showing promising results — not only for youth and veterans, but also for older adults and people living with chronic conditions.
A few key findings:
- Balance & Mobility: A 2019 study on ocean-based activities for older adults found significant improvements in static and dynamic balance over 12 weeks. Gains persisted at a 3-month follow-up.
- Mood & Depression: Programs like Waves for Change and Ocean Therapy for Veterans report measurable decreases in depression and anxiety after just 4–6 weeks of sessions.
- Social Connection: Group surf sessions foster community — essential for reducing isolation, a major risk factor for early mortality.
- Self-Efficacy: Participants describe a new identity: not as “patients,” but as athletes, learners, or adventurers.
In this way, movement that is meaningful is more sustainable than movement that is merely prescribed.
“But Is It Safe?” — Managing Risks with Realism and Responsibility
“Isn’t surfing dangerous for older adults?”
Yes — and no.
All physical activity carries some level of risk. But so does inactivity.
In fact, sedentarism is one of the most dangerous behaviors for aging adults, associated with:
- Heart disease and stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Depression
- Cognitive decline
- Frailty and loss of independence
Surf therapy programs reduce risk by including:
- Soft-top boards and padded equipment
- Shallow-water options and beach-based sessions
- Certified adaptive surf instructors
- Physical therapists on-site or in collaboration
- Buoyancy aids and wetsuits
- Environmental checks (tides, weather, currents)
- Gradual progression, from tide pool to open ocean
Most participants start slowly: learning to float, sit on the board, or wade safely. Athleticism isn’t required. Just reconnecting with movement, shedding fear of it, and being open to growing from unfamiliar experiences.
Surf therapy doesn’t replace traditional rehab. It complements it by giving people a reason to get stronger. And even if it’s not surfing specifically, being outside and in the elements is the reward in it of itself.
Beyond the Clinic: Reimagining Geriatric Therapy
The big idea is this:
Therapy doesn’t have to feel like therapy.
It can feel like joy. Like renewal. Like living again.
Healthy movement shouldn’t be limited to lifelong athletes. The myth that older adults are fragile, disinterested, or unwilling is just that — a myth.
The Santa Claus of the Sea isn’t just a surfer. He’s a living contradiction to our ageist expectations.
So understanding that movement if life at any age, we must devise better plans for maintaining movement in seniors. And we can start by inviting more of our elders into the water.
Mason Lai 