In order to become a leader, you have to embrace your own unique strengths and learn to lead yourself.
This is the lesson that led Alana Nichols down her path of glory.
Alana Nichols, a Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball and alpine skiing and a multi-sport athlete in sprint kayaking and adaptive surfing learned that to become a leader meant learning to think of her disability in a new light. At 17, Nichols was paralyzed in a snowboarding incident and as an athlete all of her life, she was devastated and thought she’d never be able to play again — until she watched a wheelchair basketball game while in college.
“I started looking at what I could do, as opposed to what I couldn’t do,” she says. For this inspiring athlete, the ability to lead in her athletic community meant gaining leadership of herself first.
Alana Nichols is a world-class athlete with a passion for challenging herself and others. From a young age, her passion for sports and adventure has driven her and no matter what obstacle life throws her way, she takes a challenge head on.
After suffering a spinal cord injury at age 17 while attempting a back flip on her snowboard, Alana quickly transitioned to adaptive sports. She is the first American female to win gold medals at both Summer (Wheelchair Basketball) and Winter (Alpine Ski Racing) Olympic/Paralympic Games.
Alana competed at her 5th Paraplegic Games in 2016 games Rio De Janeiro in her 3rd sport of sprint kayaking and is now pursuing adaptive surfing full time and continues to inspire and attract fans from around the world.
Check out Alana on Opening Night and as a panelist on the Preparing for the Olympics panel discussion on Wednesday.
Additional Surf Summit Speakers and Panel Discussions
FUTURE SHOCK: Marketing in an Era of Attention Economics
by Geoffrey Colon, senior communications designer at Microsoft and best selling author
Changemaking in a Changing World
by Erik Forsell, CMO of Alterra Mountain Company
Can Surf Learn from Streetwear’s Greatest Lesson? The Importance of Diversity and Representation in Brand-Building
by Bobby Hundreds, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Hundreds
Surf Parks & Man-Made Surf Destinations — The Future of Surfing Beyond the Ocean panel discussion
featuring panelists John Luff of Surf Park Central, Blake Hess of Nland and Shane Beschen of Playground Surf
Preparing for the Olympics panel discussion
featuring panelist Leanne Buckingham of Saatchi & Saatchi, Mark Ervin of IMG, Josh Kendrick of Red Bull and Alana Nichols
Plus…
Rick Brooks, CEO of Zumiez
Surf Summit Closing Ceremonies featuring Dusty Payne
Surf Summit educational content powered by GroupY
VIEW SURF SUMMIT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Join the following brands and retailers at Surf Summit 21
Active Ride Shop
BC Surf & Sport
Billabong
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evo
Hansen Surfboards
Jack’s Surfboards
Lost
Neff Headwear
O’Neill
Oakley
Pilgrim Surf Supply
Quiksilver
Reef
Rip Curl
Roark Revival
Ron Jon Surf Shop
RVCA
Skullcandy
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Sun Diego Boardshops
Surf Diva
SURFER Magazine
Vans
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and more!
