With the aid of a veteran with three amputees, Ricochet, the first canine-assisted surf therapy and adaptive surfing dog, caught her final wave at the age of 14 and a half. Ricochet will now stop surfing due to cancer and other health difficulties.
In order to assist Ricochet surf one more time, Jose Martinez, an army veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and Gold medalist in adapted surfing, jumped on board. Since 2017, Ricochet has supported Martinez in adapted surfing contests. Martinez took first place in the AmpSurf ISA World Parasurfing Championship in Pismo Beach last year.
After stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in 2012, he lost both of his legs, his right arm, and a finger from his left hand. Following the loss of his limbs, he took up surfing for the first time.
In 2009, when a 14-year-old boy with a spinal cord injury was surfing, Ricochet became the first surf therapy and adaptive surfing dog ever. Since then, she has surfed alongside countless numbers of special needs children, injured soldiers, PTSD-affected veterans, professional surfers, and even a goat.
Ricochet lost the ability to use her rear legs after having a rapidly expanding soft tissue sarcoma on her right side removed earlier this year. Since then, she has been receiving rehabilitation. Additionally, an ultrasound revealed a tumor in her liver, and she recently received a diagnosis of kidney illness. The lump is liver cancer, according to the later CT scan.
She also had spinal arthritis, so it was quickly obvious that she couldn’t continue surfing. But she did take pleasure in her final few waves.
Judy Fridono, Ricochet’s guardian, said: “I hoped Ricochet may catch a wave or two, but she kept going.” She was overjoyed. It was a lovely conclusion to a lovely surfing tale. Like her narrative had come full circle… Over the years, she has assisted numerous others in catching waves, and Jose was the best person to turn to for assistance.
Below, you can watch Ricochet and Jose surfing alongside one another for the last time: