Riding the Elements from Surf to Snow with Dariel Meléndez Dávila & Llywelyn “Sponge” Williams
Adaptive surfers Dariel Meléndez Dávila and Llywelyn “Sponge” Williams embody the High Fives spirit, seamlessly transitioning from riding waves to carving down the slopes. Watch the video below!
“I’ve never seen anyone else with one leg skiing, so to be able to watch helps me to try and understand how it should work instead of me just trying stuff on my own.”
– Llywelyn “Sponge” Williams
Dariel first got involved in surfing in 2021, and Sponge has been at it since 2016. Over the years, they’ve watched the adaptive surfing community grow, forming friendships across the globe. But this year brought a new challenge—trading surfboards for skis. Thanks to High Fives, Dariel & Sponge received an invitation to Steamboat, Colorado, for a week of adaptive skiing.
For Sponge, this was a big moment, having not skied for six years.
“I was pretty nervous getting back on the slopes,” he admitted.
Watching Dariel, who has skied with High Fives for multiple seasons, was a game-changer. The camaraderie between these two athletes extended beyond surfing.
“I was watching Sponge. He was watching me. It was pretty cool vibe,” Dariel shared. “Sponge loves to go fast, so it was really cool watching this guy as fast as he can.”
From surf to snow, Dariel and Sponge continue to inspire, proving that the High Fives spirit of progression and adaptation knows no boundaries. Whether fighting for a title in the waves or pushing limits on the slopes, they represent the power of community, resilience, and pure stoke.
