Operation Stoke got to know Jacob Pacheco when he reached out to Dave Moore at DMZ Surfboards in the fall of 2023 to order his first custom surfboard. Jacob is an adaptive athlete who surfs prone and competes with Team USA as a surfer in ISA Para Surfing competitions. He has often struggled and yet overcomes against all odds during his remarkable career as an athlete with cerebral palsy. He is also a motivational speaker who shares his unique story to help uplift others.
As Dave and Janessa of DMZ Surfboards and Operation Stoke got to know Jacob better they were completely captivated by his beaming personality and impressive story of overcoming some very difficult surgeries as a child that doctors thought would leave him unable to walk.
His mental strength and physical perseverance brought him to where he is now, not only able to walk, but also to train, drive, swim and surf, not to mention competing in the 2023 ISA Para Surfing World Championships with Team USA. His pure connection to the joy of surfing and his true spirit of stoke inspired Operation Stoke to sponsor him with a set of specialty fins he needed for his new DMZ Surfboard that he surfed in the competition.
Now we are working on a plan with Jacob and his surf coach Timothy to help support his next goals of competing in other international competitions. He will certainly need a few surfboards for various surf conditions as well as financial support for competition fees, travel expenses and coaching support.
We are looking forward to finding the right kind of grants, sponsorships, donations and other opportunities to make Jacob's dreams into a reality. Please contact us directly if you have any ideas. We are all in this together and nothing feels better than sharing the stoke!
Follow jacob on social media @pronetoride