Right here in our backyard, there’s a veteran Army Ranger who is quietly taking his passion for our community, the wind and the water, and the brotherhood and camaraderie he experienced in the military and using it to help injured warriors learn, cope, and heal. Inspired by the bonding he experienced during a Special Operations Wounded Warrior hunting event, St. Simons Island resident Carlos Poysky established Wind Sports for Wounded Warriors (WS4WW), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, more than two years ago.
“I saw these wounded warriors, soldiers, volunteers, and the local community working together to reach a common goal during the hunts, establishing bonds and connections with one another outside of the military. It was beautiful,” Poysky said. “While they were there at the event, they were part of something with amazing energy. I knew right then and there I wanted to ignite that same passion and marry it with kiteboarding, which I love.”
Carlos Poysky
The response from the veterans with whom he’s worked has been overwhelmingly positive. Mark Roseberry, an Army First Ranger Battalion amputee has participated in multiple events, saying, “I’m extremely grateful that WS4WW gave me the opportunity to get started in the sport. I miss comradeship and challenges. Just the chance to hang out with a group of guys who’ve been in similar situations, have shared experiences…was exactly what I’ve been missing since leaving the Army; better than clinical therapy.”
WS4WW’s most recent success was a Veteran’s Day weekend retreat in Key West. “We decided to hold a Veterans Day event because we wanted to thank these warriors on the day dedicated to them,” said WS4WW board member Patrick McDermott, a Navy veteran. “They are military, and actions speak louder than words. We wanted to surround them with people who showed their gratitude through their actions.”
Participants in the four-day event included beginner warriors Brent H., an injured Army Third Ranger Battalion sniper, and Erin M., an Air Force Special Operations staff sergeant who suffered a traumatic brain injury. They were joined by intermediate warriors Roseberry and Neil Boekel, an Army veteran who suffered traumatic brain and spinal injuries.
The warriors received three instructional sessions from a team of volunteer instructors. The land session focused on wind instruction as it relates to kiteboarding, safety systems, kite control basics, and kite setup. Water sessions taught the warriors how to control the 12-to-15 inch square meter inflatable leading-edge kites while standing in three feet of water. As they became comfortable flying the kites, they began “body dragging,” the method of controlling the kite while moving through the water. By day two on the water, most of the warriors were able to stand up and ride.
“We met so many cool people who were incredibly supportive and who made us feel welcome,” shared Roseberry. “Carlos, our instructors, and everyone who came out to support WS4WW went out of their way to make this weekend one of the best times of my life. Spending the weekend in an amazing place like Key West, and being around all the awesome people who support WS4WW, has been an unforgettable experience.”
“It was all about the warriors—that was the focus,” said volunteer instructor Ron “Moose” Langdon of Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding. “I learned a lot being around these warriors. Life is a gift. It’s about friendship. It’s about trust and laughter…and the little things are what count. I’m honored to be part of this.”
Following the retreat, WS4WW paired each participant with local volunteer instructors to continue their kiteboard training. “We are building a community of like-minded people with a similar background and similar challenges who will learn for themselves and then pass their new knowledge on to others,” explained McDermott.
This month, WS4WW will host a retreat on Jekyll Island. The four-day event, beginning May 1, provides participants with professional wind sport training, lodging, meals, and equipment as an introduction into the healthy and therapeutic kiteboarding lifestyle.
“Coastal Georgia has a special place in my heart. I served as an Army Ranger in Savannah in the ’90s, I met my wife here and have raised our children on the island, and this is where WS4WW was founded,” Poysky said. “To be able to bring that deep-rooted sense of community and infuse it in these wind sport retreats, helping local warriors heal old wounds as they work toward a common goal, is an amazing and rewarding feeling.”
The upcoming retreat will serve three to four new veterans, including U.S. Army PFC Jeffrey T., who was injured in an attack on the 3rd Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He will be joined by returning beneficiaries Roseberry and Boekel, who are looking to improve their skills.
“Sometimes all you need is a reason to get you back in the world for a while, and WS4WW gave me a reason that worked,” said Purple Heart recipient Boekel, who has participated in two previous WS4WW’s kiteboarding retreats.
So far, two instructors have signed on to provide expert training over the course of the weekend— Professional Air Sports Association (PASA) certified kiteboarding instructor Robb VanWie and Nick O'Bea of Liquid Force Kiteboarding. Joining them will be WS4WW founder Poysky, PASA-certified and a kiteboarder since 2007.
Open to the public, the event has garnered nationwide support. Premier sponsors include Veterans United Home Loans (Savannah branch) and SportsInsurance.com, who provided free insurance for all WS4WW events this year. Other sponsors include Locos Grill & Pub of Saint Simons Island, Emerald Coast Kiteboarding, Liquid Force Kiteboarding, Ocean Rodeo Kiteboarding, Litewave Designs, New Jersey Kiteboarding, KiteFix, Dick's Sporting Goods of Savannah, Bass Pro Shops of Savannah, the Masons of Glynn County, iKitesurf, and the Gundlach/Brown Olympic Sailing Team.
“When I saw the amazing work that Carlos and his team at WS4WW has been doing, I instantly wanted us to be part of it and help in any way we could,” said SportsInsurance.com Inc. President Mark Di Perno, whose business has been giving back to the sporting community on multiple levels for the past 15 years. “Giving something back to those who have given so much is the least we can do. If this program helps just one veteran enjoy the freedom of being on the water, it is worth all the hard work and dedication.”
And there’s no question that it’s worth it. The success of the Veteran’s Day event led to the creation of a Key West WS4WW chapter, and establishment of local chapters in Charleston, SC, and elsewhere in Coastal Georgia are also underway. In addition to the May retreat on Jekyll, there will be a Sullivans Island retreat in July. For information about how to participate or join a local chapter, visit ws4ww.org. If you’d like to help support the group’s mission through tax deductible donation, WS4WW accepts donations by mail or through PayPal via their website as well.
