The Ferraro's Visit Rio de Janeiro
STU Pro Skateboarding Contest, Traveling with a 1 year old & Taking time to celebrate
So how did our family of 3 end up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil? If you had asked us even just a year ago the answer would have been “Para Judo”. Little did we know the true answer is “Para Skateboarding” and Brazil already has an entire team roaring and ready to go. When we said yes to the invitation in February 2024 we had no idea the timing of the trip come October would tag on to so much momentum and leave so much to celebrate.
Brazil Already Has a Para Skateboarding Team
Anthony has been a member of Team USA since 2017. Traveling the world for Para Judo, it was pretty much his main goal and focus until an ACL tear at the Pan American Games in November 2023 took him out of the running for Paris 2024 and into the operating room. The doctor said he could skateboard after 5 months but Judo would need to be put on hold for a full year.
The break from Judo left not only a lot of extra time in Anthony’s schedule but a bit of a void for Para Sport. As the months passed recovering from the surgery we were heading to Brazil to skateboard thinking little of the efforts put behind the actual invitation to visit for the event. As soon as we arrived we had a driver at the airport and our hotel with other para skaters from around the world. As the meals and city transfers to practice happened daily it dawned on both of us that Brazil already has a Para Skateboarding team.
How electrifying it was to realize we were witnessing and participating in this early formation. That our showing up continues to progress and make the sport of Para Skateboarding more and more real. It’s one thing for people to wish skateboarding would make it to the Paralympics someday vs. actually taking action to make a team and show up at events for adaptive divisions. To advocate for inclusion like the Brazil team has demonstrated so far. There is always a starting point for change and it can be chaotic and messy but it is the beginning of something we all hope will be “real” someday. Maybe just by showing up we can give kids around the world with no legs or arms or vision, hope that one day they can skateboard too!
Traveling with a 1 year old
Oh wow woah, you took your baby to Rio de Janeiro too? How was she on the plane?
When we decided to have a child we knew it would change our lives in so many ways we could never even imagine. Travel is not only a hobby for both of us but a value. We prioritize adventure and exploring the world as much as we are able to. Having the opportunity to bring our baby along with us the past 15 months has forced us to travel in a way we never had before. We learned what ways we needed to adapt and it seems like we were able to pack less and less each trip we took. The joy it has brought us watching our daughter explore the world by our sides has been life changing. Yes, we took our baby to Rio with us. She was great on the plane but we worked hard to make that happen. As a couple, we are both willing to put in the effort on travel days and we try not to rush each phase because who knows if one day we will be looking back on this like wow I’m so glad we did that.
Celebrating 3 years married, our baby turning 1 & Kelly quitting her job
After the competition we headed up the coast of Rio from the beaches of Barra da Tijuca to Ipanema. We nestled into an ocean view room across from the beach and took time to unwind. Unsure of how this whole relaxing thing would go with a 1 year old in tow we found a way. We swam in the pool for hours as a family, we ate food on the rooftop, went to the beach, and even took a helicopter around Christ the Redeemer. Eating breakfast on our balcony overlooking the beach while the baby played and ate the freshest fruits was something we will never forget. Holding each other in bed and listening to the ocean waves crashing at night. Prioritizing rest and our relationship. Finding these date moments and anniversary celebrations and cherishing them even if we have a 1 year old with us.
Our family of 3 did end up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and it was a trip at least the two us will never forget. As for our little one, well maybe we will get the chance to visit every year to join Brazil’s Para Skateboarding team as we push the sport forward. Ideally we hope more countries follow in Brazil’s footsteps and help advance Para Skateboarding so we can get it to the Paralympics Games in Australia come 2032.
Thanks for reading. One love.
Love,
The Ferraro’s
Youu guys are amazing! Kelly, you write beautifully; thank you for sharing your life and adventures with all of us. One love!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring and loving message. I look forward to jamming some blues some time. Peace and love to you and your beautiful family.