Newcastle's Jade "Reddog" Wheatley says the ocean is therapeutic.
"The ocean has given me my health, wellbeing, freedom, all that kind of stuff. The ocean has been my whole life. I swear by it," Reddog said.
Reddog lost both legs at age 19 in a compact roller accident at work in 2000.
He helps run the annual Ossur Mobility Clinic on the Waves at Nobbys for fellow amputees and those with limb differences to "introduce them to something new and give them an option".
"It introduces a whole new world to these people," he said.
At the surf clinic, to be held on Saturday, he and Newcastle Surf School's Dan Frodsham will teach the basics of "adaptive surfing" - a form of surfing for those with a disability.
Reddog, a 40-year-old Hunter Valley miner, wants to help others with a disability believe that they can live full lives.
"A lot of people don't realise their potential," Reddog said.
In 2019, he reached the point in his life where he'd been an amputee for as long as he was an able-bodied person.
At the time, he wrote on Instagram: "19yrs with legs and 19yrs without them. If I had to choose, I would choose the 19yrs without them. My accident gave me many things that are far more valuable to me than 10 toes".
The milestones made him realise there's not much he hasn't done in life.
"It hasn't held me back. That was a big realisation," he said.
Living as an amputee meant facing mental and physical challenges.
"You have to battle with worrying about what other people think. That's the number one thing that holds people back," he said.
"It's all about what you want to do. Give it a go. You always figure out a way to do something.
"If you say you can't do something, usually it's because you're worried about what someone else is going to think. That's one thing I've figured out."
Amputees can struggle with the way they look, move and do things.
"It was always in the back of my mind."
There was a time when he was concerned about the look of his prosthetic legs.
"Now I don't give a shit. I've got these awesome covers on my legs now. They stand out. They have skulls on them.
"Everyone's going to look anyway, so I give them something to look at."
When he's out surfing, he knows people will watch.
"I had to get used to that. With any amputee, that's something you have to get used to. People are naturally going to look.
"Kids are the best. I wish everyone was like them. They're up front. They don't try to sneak a look. Kids are cool as."
They'll say: "What happened to you?" and "cool robot legs".
"Adults beat around the bush too much and it's annoying because it makes you feel awkward," he said.
Humour helps too.
"It's a huge part. It attacks the impairment front on, rather than hiding from it.
"You need to be open and realise you are a little bit different, compared to what society considers normal."
Three-Legged Dog
Reddog recounted a remarkable story at the Bali Adaptive Pro in Canggu, Indonesia in 2019.
He and Czech parasurfer Milo Brzak organised the event. They were sick of being on the margins of surf comps, despite being serious competitors.
They aspired to create an event that pushed the limits of adaptive surfing and took it to the next level.
Bali is known for its dogs. One day, out of the blue, a three-legged dog showed up and started watching the event.
"He just rocked up. Instead of chasing around with the other dogs, he came and sat there and hung out with us," Reddog said.
"He'll be the face of our next comp."
Long Life
Life expectancy keeps rising, with baby boys now expected to live to 81.2 years and baby girls to 85.3 years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] said.
"Babies born today have the highest estimated life expectancy ever recorded in Australia," the ABS said.
In 1990, life expectancy at birth in Australia was 73.9 years for males and 80.1 years for females.
So, how long could humans live in the future? Harvard Medical School Professor David Sinclair reckons ageing is "far more reversible than we thought".
Some scientists reckon humans could live to 200. Some believe 1000 is possible and not just for vampires.
