SPECIAL SURFERS
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSaco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
SPECIAL SURFERS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SPECIAL SURFERS
- Legal name
- Special Surfers
- Website
- https://specialsurfer.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SPECIAL SURFERS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adaptive Recreation Services
- NAICS
- All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures (THAJABAK)
Keywords
Where SPECIAL SURFERS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SPECIAL SURFERS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: Special Surfers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates entirely on donations and corporate sponsorships. There is no cost to participants or their families. Revenue comes from individual donations at various levels ($75-$1,500+) and corporate sponsors who receive logo placement on equipment trailers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | — | Free participation for all special needs individuals and families |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Sponsor-A-Surfer donation tier |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
SPECIAL SURFERS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Special Surfers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides free adaptive surfing experiences for children and young adults with physical, mental, or emotional special needs. Events are held monthly in June, July, and August at Gooch's Beach in Kennebunk, Maine, with all equipment, wetsuits, and instruction supplied at no cost. The Special Ops sub-program serves participants unable to stand or balance independently using mounted carbon race seats, custom harnesses, and pontoon-enhanced boards.
Product overview
Special Surfers is a single, unified non-profit program offering free surfing experiences for people with special needs. The core offering is the Special Surfers Program, which provides surfing instruction and equipment at no cost to participants at monthly summer events. The Special Ops Program is an integral component for participants requiring heightened security and physical support, featuring specialized adaptive equipment including specially mounted surfboard seats with custom harnesses, pontoon-enhanced boards, and trained volunteer teams to assist those who cannot stand or balance independently.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Special Surfers Program Community-based adaptive surfing program providing free surf experiences for children and young adults with special needs (physical, mental, or emotional disabilities) at monthly summer events held at Gooch's Beach in Kennebunk, Maine. All equipment, wetsuits, and instruction are provided at no cost to participants or their families.
- Special Ops Program Enhanced adaptive support track within the Special Surfers program for participants who are unable to stand or balance independently. Provides specially designed boards with mounted carbon race seats, custom harnesses, tumbleforms sized to small bodies, and a trained team of volunteers to ensure safety and stability during surfing. Capped at 25 Special Ops slots per event.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 participants and volunteers served since 2003
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SPECIAL SURFERS
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SPECIAL SURFERS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SPECIAL SURFERS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Inland LobstersupportingLocal business partner contributing to the Special Surfers program through donations and support.
- Maine TourismsupportingState tourism organization that supports the program as part of Maine's recreational offerings.
- Town of KennebunkcoreLocal government partner that waives parking permit requirements for Special Surfers events and provides support for event logistics. Events aligned with town's recreation department.
- Washington Hose CompanysupportingLocal fire department that provides free shuttle service with handicap access from public parking to beach events.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SPECIAL SURFERS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA): National umbrella organization supporting adaptive sports programs across the U.S., including adaptive water sports. Broader-incumbent peer representing the wider adaptive-sports delivery network.
- Challenged Athletes Foundation: Large national nonprofit supporting athletes with physical challenges across many sports, including grants for adaptive surfing. Broader-incumbent peer operating at national scale in the adaptive-athlete space.
Direct peers
- Best Day Foundation: Nonprofit providing free adaptive surf, paddle, and beach experiences for children with special needs. Direct peer in free adaptive beach programming with similar volunteer and sponsor-driven funding.
- Waves for All: Adaptive surfing nonprofit operating free surf events for individuals with disabilities. Direct peer in volunteer-supported adaptive surf days and donation-funded equipment model.
- Life Rolls On: National nonprofit providing adaptive surfing and skateboarding experiences for people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. Closest direct peer in mission, model, and adaptive water-sports programming.
- Angel City Surf Kings: Southern California adaptive surf nonprofit providing free surf experiences for special-needs participants. Direct peer in adaptive surf camp model serving special-needs communities.
- AccesSurf Hawaii: Hawaii-based nonprofit offering adaptive surfing, paddling, and ocean recreation for people with disabilities. Direct peer in adaptive ocean-sports programming and volunteer-supplied equipment model.
- Surfers Healing: Nonprofit running free surf camps for children with autism across multiple U.S. coastal locations. Direct peer in adaptive surf camps, free-to-participant model, and volunteer-driven event execution.
- A Walk on Water: Surf therapy nonprofit providing free surf experiences to children with special needs and their families. Direct peer in adaptive surfing for special-needs children and free family-inclusive programming.
Others
- Kennebunkport Recreation Department: Municipal recreation partner of Special Surfers (Tasha Pinkham serves as Director of Parks & Recreation for Kennebunk). Indirect peer as a public-sector recreation provider enabling Special Surfers' event logistics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SPECIAL SURFERS social profiles
Digital presenceSPECIAL SURFERS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SPECIAL SURFERS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
SPECIAL SURFERS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SPECIAL SURFERS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SPECIAL SURFERS
What does SPECIAL SURFERS do?
Special Surfers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides free adaptive surfing experiences for children and young adults with physical, mental, or emotional special needs. Events are held monthly in June, July, and August at Gooch's Beach in Kennebunk, Maine, with all equipment, wetsuits, and instruction supplied at no cost. The Special Ops sub-program serves participants unable to stand or balance independently using mounted carbon race seats, custom harnesses, and pontoon-enhanced boards.
Is SPECIAL SURFERS a public or private company?
SPECIAL SURFERS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SPECIAL SURFERS founded?
SPECIAL SURFERS was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SPECIAL SURFERS based?
SPECIAL SURFERS is headquartered in Saco, United States, in the North America region.
How does SPECIAL SURFERS make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Sponsorships.
Who are SPECIAL SURFERS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA) and Challenged Athletes Foundation. Direct peers are Best Day Foundation, Waves for All, Life Rolls On, Angel City Surf Kings, AccesSurf Hawaii, Surfers Healing and A Walk on Water. Kennebunkport Recreation Department is listed as an others.
Does SPECIAL SURFERS have an API?
No public API is recorded for SPECIAL SURFERS.
What industry is SPECIAL SURFERS in?
SPECIAL SURFERS's product category is Adaptive Recreation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAKAC, Surf Schools & Surf Camps, with a secondary code of THAJABAK, Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures. Its NAICS code is 71399 and its SIC code is 7990.