Clair Arnold, 10, rode the long, slow wave into Tourmaline Beach and waved to family and friends cheering on the sand. She had stood up; she may appear on TV news; and she had spent the whole day boogie boarding with her sister. Clair had had a good day. Clair was one of around 50 children with autism who spent the July 29 afternoon surfing at Tourmaline Surf Park as part of the annual Surfers Healing event. Izzy Paskowitz is the son of Doc Paskowitz who is well known in the surfing community for leaving medicine to rear his nine children in a motor home that traveled from surf spot to surf spot. A documentary has since been made about the family, who spent time at Campland on the Bay and the children attended Pacific Beach Middle School. The trailer can be viewed at www.surfwisefilm.com. Izzy Paskowitz founded Surfers Healing after his son was diagnosed with autism. “He needs the ocean and the water to help him with his behavior,” Izzy said of his 19-year-old son who bobbed in the calm waves at Tourmaline. The opportunity to share surfing with other autistic children remains a remarkable joy to Izzy, who hosts Surfers Healing – free, volunteer-run surf days for children with autism –at 14 spots across the nation, as well as in Puerto Rico and Mexico. “It’s unreal,” Izzy said. “It’s the greatest day ever. When my wife and I got married… that’s how I feel on these days.” Robert Munic, 41, drove down from Los Angeles to volunteer at the camp because his friend’s 13-year-old son was recently diagnosed with autism. Munic took an autistic child out into the water who first clutched to Munic and then didn’t want to get out of the water. “He should have seen his face when he was on the board,” Munic said. “It speaks volumes. Clair’s mother, Whitney Arnold from University City, said Surfers Healing offered Clair a rare opportunity to try out surfing. “Most parents won’t spend money on surfing lessons because they’re not sure if their kids will like it,” Arnold said, who estimated she’s spent more than $50,000 a year on therapy for Clair. “We already spend so much money on therapy that we don’t have any money left over for fun things.”