For 11-year-old Ollie Charest, catching a wave is more than just a sport. It is a chance to quiet his mind, build confidence and experience a feeling he wishes could last forever.

“Surfing helps me with my anxiety. It calms my brain and my body,” Ollie said. “Catching a wave is the happiest feeling in my body. I wish I could stay on the wave forever.”

On Sunday, Oct. 4, Ollie was among more than 60 young athletes who took to the waves at Horseneck Beach in Westport for Gnome Surf’s fourth annual Little Legends Wave Fest, an inclusive surfing competition designed to give children of all abilities an opportunity to compete and celebrate their accomplishments.

For Ollie, who has autism, ADHD and PTSD, the day brought an especially memorable achievement. He earned the highest overall score of the competition and took home a new Catch Surf Beater Shortboard.

But for Gnome Surf founder Chris Antao, the event represents something far greater than trophies and scores.

“This is so much more than just a surf competition. It’s a movement — a statement of inclusion, acceptance and pure kindness,” Antao said. “When you believe in the ability, so much stoke is created.”

The annual competition welcomes young surfers with a wide range of abilities and experiences, including children with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome and other physical, developmental and mental health challenges.

Rather than expecting every participant to compete in the same way, the event was structured to meet each athlete where they were.

Competitors participated in three divisions — Tandem, Assisted and Freestyle — based on the level of support they needed in the water. Judges evaluated their waves, considering not only technical surfing skills but also style, bravery, enthusiasm and fun.

Six champions were crowned across the divisions and age groups, with second- and third-place finishers also recognized. Champions received a 2027 Gnome Surf sponsorship, while every participant received a certificate and event merchandise.

For many families, however, the greatest reward was watching their children participate in an activity where their abilities were celebrated rather than their limitations emphasized.

“It makes me quite emotional to know that we’re delivering something to this family that normally they don’t have the opportunity to partake in,” Antao said. “To see the parent smile and tear up, and to see their child breaking barriers, is something that is truly meaningful and deep for me.”

Gnome Surf has worked with more than 6,000 athletes and families through its surf therapy programming. Although the nonprofit welcomes children of all abilities, Antao estimates that more than 95 percent of its athletes are neurodivergent or navigating conditions such as autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, depression or anxiety.

The organization’s emphasis on inclusion extends beyond the children themselves.

Through its Salty Tribe program, parents and caregivers can also learn to surf and share in their children’s experiences. One mother joined the program this season with a particular goal in mind: learning to surf well enough to catch a wave alongside her son during Little Legends.

On Sunday, she accomplished that goal, sharing a wave with him in a moment that reflected the sense of community Gnome Surf works to create.

For Ollie, that community has had an impact.

Traditional sports have not always been easy for him. The pressure to perform, fear of making mistakes and overwhelming environments can be difficult to navigate, particularly when anxiety and panic attacks become part of the experience.

“Sports are hard for me,” Ollie said. “I worry I’m going to do something wrong and make someone sad. Sometimes when things are too much, I have a panic attack. At Gnome, they love me for me. I feel safe. I made lots of friends. My mom did too.”

That feeling of acceptance has allowed him to develop his surfing skills at his own pace.

“My instructors explained surfing to me in a way my brain liked,” he said.

Antao remembers taking Ollie into the ocean for his first wave five seasons ago. Watching him become the competition’s highest-scoring athlete was an especially meaningful moment.

“I took Ollie out for his very first wave five seasons ago, so to see where he is today is pretty incredible,” Antao said. “Ollie came a very, very long way this season. He earned this. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Even Ollie was surprised by his accomplishment.

“I’m still in shock that I won,” he said.

Yet when he thinks about his future with Gnome Surf, Ollie is already looking beyond his own success.

He hopes to become a junior instructor when he turns 12, following in the footsteps of the instructors who helped him discover his confidence in the ocean.

“When I turn 12, I want to be a junior instructor,” he said. “I want to join the team that helped me and help other kids. If you get stuck or fall, don’t worry — I’ll help you. I want other kids to feel the stoke, too.”