Jesse Billauer

As a youth, Jesse Billauer was blessed with the desire and coordination to excel at a wide range of sports in his hometown of Pacific Palisades. He developed a reputation as a star athlete in sports like baseball, soccer, and floor hockey. In baseball and soccer, he played up to the high school level until surfing became his true life passion. In floor hockey, he had a season where he dominated the league's titles. In his spare time, he spent some time snowboarding, water/snow skiing, and playing ice hockey.

Jesse Billauer started surfing around the age of nine. It was his brother Josh and friend John Hearne who first exposed him to the ocean. It was love at first sight. Before long, surfing became his passion, often surfing at spots like Point Mugu Military Base, Zuma, and Supertubes. By the mid-90s, Surfer magazine named him one of the Top 100 up-and-coming surfers in the world. His competitive surfing career included international competitions in locations like Hawaii, Tahiti, Indonesia, Mexico, and Costa Rica. At age 16, he became one of the youngest members of the California State Lifeguard team, competing against much older peers in various contests.

The trajectory of his life shifted dramatically following a spinal cord injury while surfing in 1996, which left him quadriplegic. Despite this, Jesse Billauer founded the non-profit Life Rolls On Foundation, which later merged with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation in 2009. His entry into public speaking was motivated by a desire to share his life experiences, particularly his journey of overcoming adversity and embracing life fully. He covers diverse topics such as motivation, empowerment, and team building during his talks, which have included prestigious events like TEDx.

Today, Jesse Billauer is recognized not only for his past achievements in surfing but also for his impactful contributions as a public speaker. He extensively shares his experiences to teach the importance of resilience, appreciation for life, and the value of a positive attitude. Looking ahead, he remains committed to engaging with as many individuals as possible, spreading his message of hope and empowerment.