The Swell Life came out on top this weekend with a marathon on the Oprah Winfrey Network. OWN premiered a new docu-series, The Swell Life, which follows an unconventional family with everyday issues. The series began by introducing us to Izzy Paskowitz and his family. In the world of surfing, Izzy was a champion from a family of surfers. In 1972, his parents opened the first surf camp…dad, mom and nine kids. They were known as the “first family of surfing” and not only taught people how to surf….but made real surfers out of them.

Now in charge of the camp, Izzy and his own family of surfers….wife, Danielle, daughter, Elah, sons Elijah and Isaiah are doing their best to cope with their own challenges. Recognizing early on that surfing helped their autistic son, Izzy and Danielle created a non-profit organization, Surfers Healing, that teaches autistic kids to surf…an incredible opportunity for these kids. “I need them as much as they need me,” Izzy shared when discussing the community support for his son.

Each episode brought a little something new…all in a bite-size 30 minutes. The overall journey is that of the family and their 18 year old autistic son, Isaiah. There are still other family issues that come up just like any family. A little about surfing and the Surfers Healing events. Children leaving the nest. Pushing boundaries. Getting kids to go to school. A little about dealing with health issues and money concerns. A breakdown and an emergency room visit. Izzy trying out horseback competitions (yes seriously). LOTS more than just surfing and definitely worth tuning in for. Each episode left me feeling good about life and helped to remind me of what is truly important.

As Izzy and Danielle struggled with their hopes and dreams for their kids, they try to find the strength to be a good parents…doing their best to balance it all. At times it meant sacrifice, others times it had more to do with patience and endurance. Yet, in every instance it was all about love. It was clear that the Paskowitz family has no shortage of love. 

So…if you are asking yourself whether or not to give 30 minutes of your busy week to this show, the answer is a confident YES. This isn’t a show about autistism…it’s a show about family, overcoming everyday challenges and mostly love. Nothing but good stuff. Check out the official trailer here on OWN.



The Swell Life from Colourmovie on Vimeo.