{"id":671,"date":"2025-11-15T21:15:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-15T21:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/?p=671"},"modified":"2025-11-15T21:17:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-15T21:17:34","slug":"about-the-athlete-cody-young","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/?p=671","title":{"rendered":"About the Athlete: Cody Young"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

“I am acting through love”<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Cody Young<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

When you meet Cody Young, you immediately sense the calm energy of someone deeply connected to the ocean. Born and raised in Hawaii, Cody doesn\u2019t just surf \u2014 he lives it. Surfing isn\u2019t merely his profession or hobby; it\u2019s his rhythm, his escape, his meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cSurfing for me is pretty much my entire life \u2014 my passion, my career, my lifestyle, and also my escape.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In a world of constant noise and screens, Cody finds silence and presence between the waves. Without a phone, without a watch, without distractions \u2014 just the ocean and himself. Surfing demands complete presence, and Cody embraces that fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Beginning: A Life Shaped by the Ocean<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cody\u2019s relationship with the sea started long before he could even walk.
His parents, both passionate windsurfers, moved to Maui to follow the wind. For Cody, that meant growing up with the ocean as his playground, teacher, and sanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI have a photo of me on a board when I was six months old \u2014 so I don\u2019t really remember my first surf.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until he was nine years old that everything clicked. The turquoise water, the perfect sandbar, the small glassy waves \u2014 a moment that would define his future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThat day I was hooked. I had the bug \u2014 and from then on, it was every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

From then on, baseball and soccer faded into the background. Surfing became the center of his world. The ocean wasn\u2019t just where he played \u2014 it became where he grew up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Challenges and Resilience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like many athletes, Cody\u2019s path hasn\u2019t been a straight line. Injuries, setbacks, and the mental battles that come with them shaped his journey as much as triumphs in the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cComing back from injuries gave me this immense amount of appreciation. You realize how much it means to you when you can\u2019t do it for months.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Torn ligaments and muscles are not just physical obstacles \u2014 they create uncertainty, doubt, and moments of questioning one\u2019s future. Cody learned to rebuild, not only physically through gym work and rehab, but mentally through patience and discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe hardest part is mental\u2026 you start questioning everything \u2014 your path, your purpose, your future.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

But every comeback brought him deeper gratitude, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Mind Game: Staying Calm in Chaos<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Surfing big waves is not just about strength or skill \u2014 it\u2019s about absolute mental clarity. Panic can turn a situation dangerous. Calmness becomes survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWhen you get into the surf that\u2019s a bit scarier, the more calm you can be, the better chance you have of surviving.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Through breathwork, mindfulness, and guidance from his mentor Scott Sanchez, Cody trained himself to stay fully present \u2014 especially when it matters most.
For him, surfing is meditation in motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Beyond Competition: Surfing for a Cause<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While traveling the world in pursuit of waves and competitive success, Cody discovered that surfing could be more than performance, training, and results. It could be a bridge \u2014 a way to reach people who might otherwise never feel the ocean\u2019s power, calm, or freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That realization began when he was 17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One afternoon, he was simply at the beach when he came across a small event organized by a local foundation offering ocean experiences to kids who rarely had the chance \u2014 including children with special needs. They needed experienced surfers to tandem-surf with the kids, keeping them safe while giving them their first-ever ride on a wave. Cody volunteered without hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t expect it to change him.
But it did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI kind of got that first-hand experience of like\u2026 like, you know, surfing on board with another person and, you know, they’ve probably only been in the water a handful of times. So, you know, they need professionals to make sure that they’re safe. So going out there and kind of experiencing that, that was like, I don’t know, that kind of inspired me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It was the first time he understood how powerful surfing could be beyond the competitive world he grew up in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, he developed his senior high school project around helping children with special needs surf. That experience led him to meet Izzy Paskowitz, the legendary surfer and founder of Surfers Healing <\/strong>\u2014 the original surf-therapy organization for children with autism. Izzy\u2019s own son, Isaiah, had found deep comfort in the ocean, and Izzy had dedicated his life to sharing that gift with others. Cody joined him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, they traveled to events around the world \u2014 from California to the East Coast, to Australia, and back to Maui. Each event was different, but the feeling was always the same: transformation, connection, and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cSurfing can be such a selfish endeavor \u2014 waves are a scarce resource.
But through Surfers Healing, I found a selfless way to surf.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These days, Cody has witnessed moments many people never get to see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-speaking children suddenly smiling uncontrollably
Kids who usually struggle with sensory overload finding complete calm beyond the breakers
Parents in tears on the beach, watching their child experience joy, peace, or connection they haven\u2019t seen in years<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cYou can see this sense of calm come over them once they\u2019re out past the breakers\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For Cody, these days in the water feel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cas good, if not better, than catching a perfect wave at Pipeline.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Because it isn\u2019t just the kids whose lives are touched.
These experiences changed him, too \u2014 giving him perspective, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of what surfing can mean when shared with love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Purpose and Perspective<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Surfing professionally comes with pressure, expectations, and the risk that passion can start to feel like work. Surfers Healing reminded Cody what matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThere are days when surfing feels like a job. But then I remember how stoked these kids are\u2026 why should I ever take this for granted?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

His dream is to expand Surfers Healing in Maui so every special needs child \u2014 and adult \u2014 can experience the healing power of the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cOur goal is to reach every single special needs kid in Maui \u2014 and give them the chance to surf.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

One Step at a Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cody\u2019s competitive dream remains clear: qualify for the Championship Tour \u2014 and ultimately, one day, become World Champion. But unlike some athletes who chase results at any cost, Cody approaches his goals with patience, perspective, and methodical planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cEverything\u2019s very methodical \u2014 you go moment by moment and day by day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Every training session, every wave, and every competition is an opportunity to learn, improve, and stay present. He pushes himself relentlessly in the gym and in the water, analyzing each maneuver, refining every technique, and preparing mentally for the high-stakes waves of the Championship Tour. His determination is fueled by the dream of standing among the world\u2019s best surfers \u2014 a goal he pursues with unwavering focus and discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even while pursuing competitive success, Cody remains grounded in what truly motivates him: the joy of surfing and the opportunity to spread love through it. He sees the ocean not just as a playground or arena, but as a vessel \u2014 a way to connect, heal, and give back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI think my purpose on Earth is to spread love \u2014 and I\u2019m using surfing as the vessel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Every wave, every session, every contest is a chance to practice that philosophy, to live intentionally, and to grow as both a surfer and a human being. Surfing is the vehicle, but love is always the destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Acting Through Love<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Toward the end of our conversation, Cody shared a small moment that grew into something meaningful \u2014 a simple pin he found during a Surfers Healing tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201c<\/strong>It just said, I am acting through love.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s the first to admit he\u2019s not perfect \u2014 no one is.
But this mantra guides him, reminds him, and grounds him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we should be doing as humans \u2014 treating everyone with respect and spreading love\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

“I am acting through love”<\/em>
\u2013 Cody Young<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I am acting through love” \u2013 Cody Young When you meet Cody Young, you immediately sense the calm energy of someone deeply connected to the ocean. Born and raised in Hawaii, Cody doesn\u2019t just surf \u2014 he lives it. Surfing isn\u2019t merely his profession or hobby; it\u2019s his rhythm, his escape, his meditation. \u201cSurfing for me is pretty much my entire life \u2014 my passion, my career, my lifestyle, and also my escape.\u201d In a world of constant noise and screens, Cody finds silence and presence between the waves. Without a phone, without a watch, without distractions \u2014 just the ocean and himself. Surfing demands complete presence, and Cody embraces that fully. The Beginning: A Life Shaped by the Ocean Cody\u2019s relationship with the sea started long before he could even walk.His parents, both passionate windsurfers, moved to Maui to follow the wind. For Cody, that meant growing up with the ocean as his playground, teacher, and sanctuary. \u201cI have a photo of me on a board when I was six months old \u2014 so I don\u2019t really remember my first surf.\u201d It wasn\u2019t until he was nine years old that everything clicked. The turquoise water, the perfect sandbar, the small glassy waves \u2014 a moment that would define his future. \u201cThat day I was hooked. I had the bug \u2014 and from then on, it was every day.\u201d From then on, baseball and soccer faded into the background. Surfing became the center of his world. The ocean wasn\u2019t just where he played \u2014 it became where he grew up. Challenges and Resilience Like many athletes, Cody\u2019s path hasn\u2019t been a straight line. Injuries, setbacks, and the mental battles that come with them shaped his journey as much as triumphs in the water. \u201cComing back from injuries gave me this immense amount of appreciation. You realize how much it means to you when you can\u2019t do it for months.\u201d Torn ligaments and muscles are not just physical obstacles \u2014 they create uncertainty, doubt, and moments of questioning one\u2019s future. Cody learned to rebuild, not only physically through gym work and rehab, but mentally through patience and discipline. \u201cThe hardest part is mental\u2026 you start questioning everything \u2014 your path, your purpose, your future.\u201d But every comeback brought him deeper gratitude, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. The Mind Game: Staying Calm in Chaos Surfing big waves is not just about strength or skill \u2014 it\u2019s about absolute mental clarity. Panic can turn a situation dangerous. Calmness becomes survival. \u201cWhen you get into the surf that\u2019s a bit scarier, the more calm you can be, the better chance you have of surviving.\u201d Through breathwork, mindfulness, and guidance from his mentor Scott Sanchez, Cody trained himself to stay fully present \u2014 especially when it matters most.For him, surfing is meditation in motion. Beyond Competition: Surfing for a Cause While traveling the world in pursuit of waves and competitive success, Cody discovered that surfing could be more than performance, training, and results. It could be a bridge \u2014 a way to reach people who might otherwise never feel the ocean\u2019s power, calm, or freedom. That realization began when he was 17. One afternoon, he was simply at the beach when he came across a small event organized by a local foundation offering ocean experiences to kids who rarely had the chance \u2014 including children with special needs. They needed experienced surfers to tandem-surf with the kids, keeping them safe while giving them their first-ever ride on a wave. Cody volunteered without hesitation. He didn\u2019t expect it to change him.But it did. \u201cI kind of got that first-hand experience of like\u2026 like, you know, surfing on board with another person and, you know, they’ve probably only been in the water a handful of times. So, you know, they need professionals to make sure that they’re safe. So going out there and kind of experiencing that, that was like, I don’t know, that kind of inspired me\u2026\u201d It was the first time he understood how powerful surfing could be beyond the competitive world he grew up in. Later, he developed his senior high school project around helping children with special needs surf. That experience led him to meet Izzy Paskowitz, the legendary surfer and founder of Surfers Healing \u2014 the original surf-therapy organization for children with autism. Izzy\u2019s own son, Isaiah, had found deep comfort in the ocean, and Izzy had dedicated his life to sharing that gift with others. Cody joined him. Together, they traveled to events around the world \u2014 from California to the East Coast, to Australia, and back to Maui. Each event was different, but the feeling was always the same: transformation, connection, and love. \u201cSurfing can be such a selfish endeavor \u2014 waves are a scarce resource.But through Surfers Healing, I found a selfless way to surf.\u201d These days, Cody has witnessed moments many people never get to see: Non-speaking children suddenly smiling uncontrollablyKids who usually struggle with sensory overload finding complete calm beyond the breakersParents in tears on the beach, watching their child experience joy, peace, or connection they haven\u2019t seen in years \u201cYou can see this sense of calm come over them once they\u2019re out past the breakers\u2026\u201d For Cody, these days in the water feel: \u201cas good, if not better, than catching a perfect wave at Pipeline.\u201d Because it isn\u2019t just the kids whose lives are touched.These experiences changed him, too \u2014 giving him perspective, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of what surfing can mean when shared with love. Purpose and Perspective Surfing professionally comes with pressure, expectations, and the risk that passion can start to feel like work. Surfers Healing reminded Cody what matters most. \u201cThere are days when surfing feels like a job. But then I remember how stoked these kids are\u2026 why should I ever take this for granted?\u201d His dream is to expand Surfers Healing in Maui so every special needs child \u2014 and adult \u2014 can experience the healing power<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=671"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":709,"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671\/revisions\/709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lionelandrey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}