In The News – High Fives Foundation is making waves, literally
September 30, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 09/30/2025, Written by Petra Molina
The sun lit up Lake Tahoe’s blue waters as a MasterCraft boat rumbled across the lake. Onboard, athletes slipped into wetsuits, tightened life jackets and prepared to ride their wakesurf boards. Each one was different — customized with seatbelts or foot straps — and each athlete brought their own style, some balancing from a seated position, others steering with their hips.
When the waves rolled in, athletes carved across the water with speed and style.
The High Fives Foundation has brought a new kind of inclusivity to Tahoe’s waters. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to preventing life-changing injuries and offering resources and hope if they happen, hosted a series of adaptive wakesurf clinics across the summer and fall, totaling 20 weeks of programming.
Photo: Alana Nichols, is the first American female to win gold medals at both Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.Petra Molina / Sierra Sun