Background
Bailey grew up in the Santa Cruz, California area and excelled as a semi-pro surfer and skateboarder.
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Christiaan Bailey
Edit ProfileEducation
He and his family departed for France when he was young, where he attended the American School of Paris.
Career
Bailey moved back to Santa Cruz in the fall of 2003. He was a professional surfer and skateboarder, who spent much of his time in Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador) and west Africa Morocco, Mauritania as a back-country surf guide. On July 23, 2006, during the filming of a skateboarding video at Derby skatepark in Santa Cruz, Bailey crashed on his skateboard, fracturing several vertebrae in his back (L3,L4,S3), damaging his spinal cord in the process, which left him paralyzed from the waist down as a result.
Since his injury, Bailey"s sponsors (Surftech, Roush Creations, Hotline wetsuits, Volcom, Electric Sunglasses, Santa Cruz Skate Shop & Aloha Island) have continued to support him, giving him the opportunity to surf on tour.
He participates in expression sessions on various legs of several different pro and semi-pro tours. Including the Association of Software Professionals (Association of Surfing Professionals) WQS/WCT (World Qualifying Series & World Championship Tour), WSA (Western Surfing Association) tour, NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) tour and Volcom Crustaceous Series events.
Since his injury in July 2006, Bailey has surfed and chairskated in expression sessions during the O"Neill Coldwater Classic (2006,07,08,09,10,11,12), United States Open of Surfing(2007,08,09,10,11, 12), Hurley Pro at Lowers WCT (2008,09,10,11) Reef Panama Classic (2007,08,10), Quicksilver Pro Hossegor(2008,09,10), NSSA National Championships (2007), WSA National Championships (2008,09,10) and the Volcom Crustacious Tour Series (2008,09,10,11). In March 2010, Christiaan Bailey and Aaron Fotheringham were selected by the International Olympic Committee or International Olympic Committee to be a part of "Team Extreme" for the Vancouver Paralympic Opening Ceremonies, showcasing the new sport of chairskating at British Columbia Place Stadium in front of 73,000 people.
Bailey is currently one of only two professional "chairskater"s", and currently remains the "only" paralyzed professional big wave surfer in the world.
Bailey is also active in many international non-governmental organization"s and disability related non profit organizations. Bailey is an ambassador for the Life Rolls On foundation as well, a non-profit (501c3) that promotes active lifestyles for young people who have sustained spinal cord injuries.
