Individual SURF THERAPY
One-on-one sessions tailored to each athlete’s unique needs. With consistent support from trained instructors, athletes build confidence, resilience, and social-emotional skills while experiencing the healing power of the ocean.
Happy Camp & Day Camps:
Inclusive surf therapy, ocean fun, and connection—all in a single unforgettable beach day
Surf-Fit and Wellness
Where land-based fitness and pool training meet to support mind, body, and ocean readiness.
Caretaker Wellness
A restorative space for those who give so much. Through mindfulness, movement, and community, caretakers recharge, find balance, and strengthen the resilience they bring to their loved ones.
LITTLE LEGENDS WAVE FEST TRAVEL CLINIC
A traveling surf therapy clinic that brings the stoke to new beaches and communities. Athletes and families connect through inclusive surf sessions, celebration, and shared growth—spreading the magic of Gnome Surf beyond our home shores.
Youth Mentorship
Guiding the next generation of surfers and leaders through connection, responsibility, and growth. With support from trained mentors, young athletes build confidence, sharpen skills, and discover the power of belonging to an inclusive surf community.
Costa Rica
An immersive surf therapy adventure designed for our Gnome Surf families and the local Costa Rican community. Together, we share the magic of surfing, connection, and wellness—embracing warm waves, vibrant culture, and the restorative rhythm of pura vida.
Events
From paddle outs to community celebrations, our events bring athletes, families, and supporters together. Each gathering strengthens connection, spreads stoke, and fuels the mission of inclusive surf therapy.
News and Press
From local beaches to global stages—Gnome Surf has made waves in major publications and news programs, innovating and pioneering surf therapy one story at a time.
Images and Videos
View photos from every session—our photographers capture the magic at the beach daily. Browse the galleries and watch videos that bring the Gnome Surf story to life.
REGISTER FOR INDIVIDUAL SURF THERAPY SESSION
Experience the magic of Gnome Surf—book your individual session now
REGISTER FOR SURF THERAPY EVENTS
Celebrate connection, stoke, and community at our surf therapy events
“Fighting In The Trenches of Joy”: The Pure Stoke of Gnome Surf
Read the original article Here from Surfer.com
A humble group with a profound impact, meet the surfers who are a lifeline for kids who have been told they don’t belong.
We’re delighted to bring you the story of Gnome Surf, a surf therapy organization based in Rhode Island that has been helping hundreds of people with conditions ranging from autism to spinal cord injuries, finding joy and healing through surfing. Their mission is to offer an invitation to every child or family who has felt invisible as they’ve dealt with their difficulties and to introduce the ocean as the ultimate doorway to social and emotional wellness, happiness, and self-esteem. You can support their mission with donations here.
Founder Christopher Antao explains how Gnome Surf was born directly from the solace surfing offered in his own life, “I was a neurodivergent kid drowning in silence—until the ocean taught me how to breathe. Surfing saved my life. Now we’re using it to save others while it continues to save ours.”
Chris and Brigham Bough, who started as a volunteer and now helps co-lead the organization, were a blessing to speak with as they embody the exemplary spirit of surfing where one gives more than one takes. To put it simply, they are living with Aloha and sharing it far and wide.
“We’re not just on the beach—we’re in the trenches of joy. Every day from May to October, our team shows up for individual one to one sessions to prove that ‘different’ belongs in the lineup. In addition, we offer two larger traditional surf therapy events every weekend of the summer from June to October called Happy Camps where anywhere from 25 – 40 families gather as a community in a safe space to come as they are and be who they are, judgement free, to celebrate our athletes strengths rather than what the world view of what they lack. In this space, they are championed and celebrated for their unique abilities to help make us all better humans. Our surf program isn’t a day of fun—it’s a wellness revolution. Families heal together, while we collaborate with local communities to uplift kids who’ve been left out of the conversation.”
An instructor and student during a surf lesson in Costa Rica with Gnome Surf
While the kids are the focus of the surf program, the families benefit immensely from the connection and support they find within the Gnome community. They have programs for moms, dads, siblings, as well as the opportunity for other surfers to get involved as volunteers and take part in the magic that comes from sharing waves.
What we found when we got there was pure joy. I found myself watching and cheering for kids I didn’t even know. My son was quite nervous, but the instructors took their time and were super patient with him. I left feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness. I look forward to becoming more involved as a volunteer this summer! I would recommend Gnome to anyone who needs (or wants) a little (or a lot) of joy!”
– Alicia D. Gnome Surf Mom
An instructor and student sharing a board on a wave in Costa Rica
For many families, having children with Autism or disabilities can feel like they’re being sidelined and deprived of the experiences more easily available to neurotypical and non-disabled youth. Gnome Surf challenges this notion by using the ocean as the prime example to send ripples through the rest of society. This is a revolution in the fact that they’re rewriting how they’re athletes are viewed–because it’s not about what they lack, but what they have. What happens when they stand on the beach and watch a kid paddle out for the first time? That’s not just a surf lesson or surf therapy session. That’s a revolution.
It’s about catching hope, confidence, and belonging. We’re rewriting the story of trauma—one ride, one child, one ‘I can’ moment at a time. The ocean doesn’t see labels. Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, depression and/or anxiety—those words dissolve in the saltwater. What’s left? Pure joy.
Gnome Surf
To be honest, we feel that stories like these are the salvation of surfing because they are about sharing the gift that came to us from the Hawaiians, the gift that was nearly lost due to colonialism, the gift that is surfing. All too often we celebrate the figures that take–the ones that get all the waves, all the attention, all the support–whereas what we should be doing is celebrating the ones who give.
Gnome operates under a simple statement of STOKE: Safety, Trust, Optimism, Kindness, Energy–as in always bring the good vibes. Their approach has seen improvements in all areas for their students, with happiness levels up in 98% of students and self-confidence up in 93%.
“Our boards are therapy tools. Our waves? Medicine. We’re not just a nonprofit. We’re a lifeline for kids who’ve been told they don’t belong in the water—or anywhere else. Every child deserves to feel the ocean’s embrace. No exceptions. Surfing isn’t a sport here. It’s a language—a way to speak to the soul when words fail. We’re building a world where ‘different’ isn’t just accepted—it’s celebrated. And our surf community is leading the charge.“
When it comes to supporting children and families through the challenges of injuries, illness, and trauma–unity is the answer and the mission is to demand more support for the kids. If you have enjoyed the story of Gnome Surf, please consider supporting them with donations and spreading the word.
To Chris, Brig, and the entire Gnome Surf community, we thank you for all that you do.
Fuel the Magic. Be the Movement. Become a Sponsor
Behind every smile, every breakthrough, every child who finally believes they belong, stands you. Our sponsors and partners aren’t just supporters—they’re the backbone of our mission, the lifeline to our magic. These visionary companies and foundations don’t just write checks; they co-create futures. They invest in communities, champion corporate responsibility, and prove that profit and purpose can ride the same wave.
To our current partners: you’re the reason hope has a heartbeat here. Your mentorship, belief, and unwavering commitment fuel therapies that heal, programs that empower, and a tribe where no one walks alone. To those yet to join us: this is more than charity—it’s legacy. Align your brand with radical joy, unshakable inclusion, and a movement rewriting lives daily.
We don’t just need donors. We need partners who dare to ask, “What if?” What if your logo could stand for love? What if your business could be a beacon?
Join us. Be the tide that lifts every child home.
