I have a special needs Grandson, Spencer, and he has been going to the event for several years now. Let's just say, he has not had this much fun doing anything else. These teams are trained to assist each and every participant up on the surf board. They ride, swim, and hold onto the participant as the participants surf the waves. It is a true and very rewarding team effort...one that you can see on every volunteer's face. But most of all, when you see the smiles on the participants faces and laughter as they float onto shore on their surf boards, you cannot help but feel the warmth and happiness for these individuals because this is their day. A day that they can be just like any other "normal" person.