Quinn Waitley
Hometown: Coronado, CA
Years para surfing: 7 years
Division: Para Surfing Prone 2
Quiver: Bird/ Picone - grey board, Ben Wei - black board
Things I love: Surfing, personal training, fashion, and country line dancing
Instagram: @Quinn_cess
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quinn.waitley
Favorite quote: Expect the best, plan for the worst and prepare to be surprised. ~ Denis Waitley
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Quinn Waitley is a 26-year-old professional adaptive athlete. Born and raised in San Diego, she comes from an athletic family of seven girls. She is one of four identical quadruplet sisters, who were born 28 weeks prematurely. Quinn was born with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
Growing up, Quinn competed in many sports from wheelchair rugby to basketball to WCMX (wheelchair skateboarding). She has always loved the water and once she was exposed to surfing, she fell in love.
The started surfing at age 20 — the first year that the ISA World Para Surfing Championships began. “As soon I saw the event and the surfers competing, told my family that I wanted to be on the USA Surfing national team,” she said. In June 2018, that dream became a reality, when she became the first USA female in the Assist Prone division (Prone 2).
She has been a member of Team USA for the last four years, earning gold, silver, bronze and copper medals. She remains in the top six Women Prone Assist division surfers in the world, and a Toyota USA Surfing Champion for four years running.
Quinn says her favorite part about surfing is getting out of her wheelchair, leaving it on the beach and “going as fast as I can on any wave!”
Quinn’s greatest hope is to encourage young girls to get out in the water and experience the joy of surfing, but also to let them know that they can be competitive in any sport, even if they have limitations.
Quinn and her family formed a non-profit called “Team Quinn” to support people with any challenging condition to surf and enjoy the water. One of Team Quinn’s goals is to help anyone with disabling circumstances, along with their family and friends, to experience surfing or just a day at the Beach. They serve people at every level from beginner to experienced in the water and on a board.
“I am so fortunate to be able to surf and represent my country and I thank God for the body and abilities He has given, and for my family and friends who provide so much love and support to help me surf and enjoy my life,” Quinn said. “Since I was five years old it’s been my dream to go to the Paralympics, and many of my dreams to become a competitive and professional athlete have already come true. Now, I am hoping to make the Paralympics as an adaptive surfer, when they become a reality — we are so close!”
Years para surfing: 7 years
Division: Para Surfing Prone 2
Quiver: Bird/ Picone - grey board, Ben Wei - black board
Things I love: Surfing, personal training, fashion, and country line dancing
Instagram: @Quinn_cess
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quinn.waitley
Favorite quote: Expect the best, plan for the worst and prepare to be surprised. ~ Denis Waitley
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Quinn Waitley is a 26-year-old professional adaptive athlete. Born and raised in San Diego, she comes from an athletic family of seven girls. She is one of four identical quadruplet sisters, who were born 28 weeks prematurely. Quinn was born with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
Growing up, Quinn competed in many sports from wheelchair rugby to basketball to WCMX (wheelchair skateboarding). She has always loved the water and once she was exposed to surfing, she fell in love.
The started surfing at age 20 — the first year that the ISA World Para Surfing Championships began. “As soon I saw the event and the surfers competing, told my family that I wanted to be on the USA Surfing national team,” she said. In June 2018, that dream became a reality, when she became the first USA female in the Assist Prone division (Prone 2).
She has been a member of Team USA for the last four years, earning gold, silver, bronze and copper medals. She remains in the top six Women Prone Assist division surfers in the world, and a Toyota USA Surfing Champion for four years running.
Quinn says her favorite part about surfing is getting out of her wheelchair, leaving it on the beach and “going as fast as I can on any wave!”
Quinn’s greatest hope is to encourage young girls to get out in the water and experience the joy of surfing, but also to let them know that they can be competitive in any sport, even if they have limitations.
Quinn and her family formed a non-profit called “Team Quinn” to support people with any challenging condition to surf and enjoy the water. One of Team Quinn’s goals is to help anyone with disabling circumstances, along with their family and friends, to experience surfing or just a day at the Beach. They serve people at every level from beginner to experienced in the water and on a board.
“I am so fortunate to be able to surf and represent my country and I thank God for the body and abilities He has given, and for my family and friends who provide so much love and support to help me surf and enjoy my life,” Quinn said. “Since I was five years old it’s been my dream to go to the Paralympics, and many of my dreams to become a competitive and professional athlete have already come true. Now, I am hoping to make the Paralympics as an adaptive surfer, when they become a reality — we are so close!”
