How a Wakeboarding Injury Turned Me into a Photographer

It’s funny how life can change in the blink of an eye. For me, it all started with a wakeboarding injury. Growing up near the ocean, I had always been drawn to water. I started surfing when I was just ten years old, and by the time I hit 18, I was hooked on wakeboarding too. Something about being in and around water has always made me feel at home—like I was in my element.

Wakeboarding right before my knee gave out.

But life has a way of throwing curveballs. At 24, I was wakeboarding, pushing my limits, when my knee gave out. I was sidelined, laid up in bed, and completely gutted. I would no longer be wakeboarding, surfing, or out there with my friends chasing that rush that only the ocean and water sports could give me. I felt disconnected and lost.

That’s when I had a crazy idea—what if, even though I couldn’t be on the water, I could still be around it? I figured if I couldn’t be the one surfing or wakeboarding, I could be the one capturing those epic moments instead. So, I picked up a camera. At first, it was just something to do. I’d shoot photos and videos of my friends surfing and wakeboarding; the energy was addicting. It made me feel like I was still part of it as if I hadn’t lost that connection to the water.

But then something happened. I started to feel the rush I used to get from wakeboarding and surfing—not from being out there, but from behind the lens. I’d take a good shot, show it to my friends, and see their faces light up. They were stoked, and that made me stoked. It was like I’d found a new way to ride the wave—through my camera.

Behind the lens.

The more I shot, the more hooked I got. My knee was still healing, but I didn’t feel like I was missing out. I was creating something, capturing moments in time that would’ve otherwise been lost. And the best part? I was still around the water, feeling the energy I loved.

After my knee had healed, I took a trip to a wakeboard camp in Florida. I brought my camera along and shot a few clips of some pro wakeboarders. I threw together a little video, not thinking much of it. But then an online magazine saw the video and asked me to write an article to go along with it. Not only did they pay me for it, but they opened up this whole new world of opportunity that I didn’t even know existed.

From there, it snowballed. I built a relationship with the magazine’s owner. Before I knew it, I was traveling, shooting photos and videos, doing interviews, and writing articles about the people I met along the way. I was connecting with athletes and artists from all over, all while doing something I loved. It was like life was handing me a second chance, a new path I hadn’t even imagined.

As much as I love wakeboarding, surfing has always been my true first love. And after a while, I naturally gravitated back to it. Being near the ocean, hearing the waves, and being in the water surfing still felt like home, but now I had a new way to be a part of it all as a surfer and a photographer.

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to meet incredible people, visit amazing places, and capture moments I’ll never forget—all because of that one injury. What felt like a setback at the time became the gateway to something far bigger than I ever could’ve imagined. It’s wild how life works like that.

Hanging out with Steve Caballero at his house in Carlsbad.

Looking back, I can’t believe how much my life has changed. What started as a way to stay connected to the water became a career, a passion, and a way of life. Photography has allowed me to live a life I’d only dreamed of, and I still have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure it’s real.

So, if you’ve ever thought about getting into photography—or just diving deeper into something you love—do it. Don’t hesitate. You never know where it might take you or who you’ll meet. I’m living proof that life’s twists and turns can lead to the most unexpected and incredible opportunities.

And hey, if you ever need advice or have questions, I’m here. I believe in paying it forward, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Comment below with any questions, and I will reply.

Thanks for reading. Here’s to capturing more moments, riding the wave of life, and living your dreams—one snapshot at a time.