Documentary highlights surfing with the blind

DEL MAR — “Surfing with the Blind,” a 28-minute television program for the Del Mar TV Foundation, will show some of the best of North County’s altruists in action. The documentary will air Jan. 2 at 8 p.m., Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 5 at 11 a.m. and for the remainder of January on Fridays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 6 p.m. and Mondays at 11 a.m.
Del Mar TV airs on Time Warner Cable, analog TV on Channel 24, digital TV on Channel 130 in North County of San Diego and Channel 19 on Time Warner South and North Counties or streaming live at www.delmartv.com
The documentary was produced and hosted by Stephanie Sullivan, a volunteer community producer at Del Mar TV for the past six years. “Surfing with the Blind” was filmed in September at Ponto State Beach in Carlsbad with members from The Blind Community Center of San Diego and the La Jolla Braille Institute.
The program was funded via a grant by the Del Mar TV Foundation, exploring the concept of teaching the blind and visually impaired how to surf, an idea envisioned and then created by Larry Graff 13 years ago. Graff is a current member of the Encinitas Lions Club and Swami’s Surfing Association Having helped with some other fun, sports related programs for the blind and visually impaired, Graff thought surfing would be a great event for the nonprofit organizations to incorporate into their programs. Graff and his daughter, Rachael and a friend, Tyler Olson, are highlighted in the program.
Pat Weber, owner of the San Diego Surfing Academy, approached Stephanie Sullivan to film this program. The videographers are David Russell and Luana Karr. Russell is a new member of the Del Mar TV Producers Group. Karr is co-leader of the Producer’s Group with Steve Rose and is co-chairman of the foundation. The editor, Larry Reed, of Dreamcatcher Videos, is a new member of the Del Mar TV Foundation, providing event packages for its “Reel Focus” program.
Sullivan has also produced 10 TV programs and has been an active “crew member” for more than 30 shows produced by co-members of the Del Mar TV Producer’s Group.