Message from Yutaka
25 November 2025
Thanks again for everyone's support, my treatment is going well and I'm feeling much better.
I finally got back in the ocean after my surgery. I had a lot of worries before getting back into the sea. Everyone's encouragement pushed me forward. My body was stiff, and I couldn't ride the way I wanted to but just knowing that I could surf again made me super super happy because I thought I'd never be able to surf again when my condition was at its worst.
I surfed by the pier, which is the exact same spot I had a lesson from Dave over 20 years ago and first stood on a surfboard. I experienced the same excitement again when I first stood up on my board after 6 months of not being able to surf. I'm so looking forward to seeing you all again in the water and sharing the waves and fun out there. I want to say again a big thanks to my family, friends and colleagues who have been part of my life here in New Zealand and in Japan. Without everyone's support, I wouldn't have been able to continue this treatment, and without this treatment, I wouldn't have gotten so healthy, I wouldn't have been able to eat solid food again, I wouldn't have been able to surf again, and in the worst-case scenario, I might not even be alive today. You have all saved my life and I cannot thank you enough.
See you out there in the surf!
Mahalo, Yutaka
November 2025
Photo credit - Jan Everett November 2025
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良かったです、ゆたかさん。良いニュースをシェアして下さってありがとうございます😊😊こちらもハッピーになります！
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Welcome back to the surf, so pleased to hear you’re getting your strength back. See you in the water xxx
