Sarah Bettencourt
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Years para surfing: 5 years
Division: Para Surfing Prone 1
Quiver: 5'8" shortboard, 6'0" shortboard
Things I love: My family, mother earth, all things outdoors, great food, living in the moment
Instagram: @sb10ct
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.m.bettencourt
Favorite quote: If not us, who? If not now, when? -JFK
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Growing up as a recreational surfer in Ocean City, MD, Sarah was drawn to the water. She is the 2020 ISA World Surfing Championship Gold Medalist has represented Team USA on the Toyota USA Surfing Para Surf national team for the past two years in the Women’s Para Surf Prone 1 division.
Captain Bettencourt (USMC, Retired) was training as a helicopter pilot when a rare neurological disorder affected the use of her hands. Remaining in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Adjutant, Sarah continued to serve until her disability worsened to where she could no longer walk, forcing her to medically retire in 2012. Her symptoms affected any part of her body causing weakness, loss of coordination, or loss of use in those areas, which remained for a day or for the rest of her life.
With her constantly changing and sometimes very serious symptoms, Sarah struggled to find her place back in society until she was introduced to adaptive sports.
At her first event, Sarah realized by adapting equipment and technique, she could accomplish anything!
She then founded San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey, a para ice hockey club, for others to learn this same lesson through a team sport. Sarah played on the US Women’s Para Ice Hockey Team for several years when she was introduced to adaptive surfing at the Challenged Athlete Foundation’s clinic before the 2017 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships.
Sarah now lives a full and happy life with her husband and two sons, serving others through adaptive sports and representing her nation in sled hockey and surfing.
Years para surfing: 5 years
Division: Para Surfing Prone 1
Quiver: 5'8" shortboard, 6'0" shortboard
Things I love: My family, mother earth, all things outdoors, great food, living in the moment
Instagram: @sb10ct
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.m.bettencourt
Favorite quote: If not us, who? If not now, when? -JFK
=
Growing up as a recreational surfer in Ocean City, MD, Sarah was drawn to the water. She is the 2020 ISA World Surfing Championship Gold Medalist has represented Team USA on the Toyota USA Surfing Para Surf national team for the past two years in the Women’s Para Surf Prone 1 division.
Captain Bettencourt (USMC, Retired) was training as a helicopter pilot when a rare neurological disorder affected the use of her hands. Remaining in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Adjutant, Sarah continued to serve until her disability worsened to where she could no longer walk, forcing her to medically retire in 2012. Her symptoms affected any part of her body causing weakness, loss of coordination, or loss of use in those areas, which remained for a day or for the rest of her life.
With her constantly changing and sometimes very serious symptoms, Sarah struggled to find her place back in society until she was introduced to adaptive sports.
At her first event, Sarah realized by adapting equipment and technique, she could accomplish anything!
She then founded San Diego Ducks Sled Hockey, a para ice hockey club, for others to learn this same lesson through a team sport. Sarah played on the US Women’s Para Ice Hockey Team for several years when she was introduced to adaptive surfing at the Challenged Athlete Foundation’s clinic before the 2017 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships.
Sarah now lives a full and happy life with her husband and two sons, serving others through adaptive sports and representing her nation in sled hockey and surfing.