Our Story
About Son Rise Surf
SonRise Surf’s founder Todd Ball began his relationship with Christ during his teenage years when he attended church with his best friend’s family. He became part of a Sunday night youth group where students had fun playing ping pong and doing a bible study on Romans. The youth leader, a young man named John, took the small student group for an overnight winter ski trip at Winterplace Resort in West Virginia. Experiencing an action sports setting was the hook that showed Todd following Christ can be both rewarding and fun.
Our Founders
Todd Ball
After college, Todd started searching for a way to be like his mentor John and pave the way for other students to know Christ. Galatians 6:10 which states, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believes,” began weighing heavily on Todd and his wife Emily’s heart.
The Ball family were blessed with a home on the lake, including a wake boat that provided the venue and opportunity to give students a unique experience.
The particular boat was a Super Air Nautique G23, produced by a company called Correct Craft.
This company has a unique and rich Christian background which was a further inspiration to Todd.
The Correct Craft mission is “building boats for the glory of God”, so he thought “why not also use those boats for the glory of God?”
Caelan Peterson
As God was working in the hearts of the Ball family, co-founder Caelan Peterson was on staff at Grace Fellowship Church where the Ball family has attended since 2013.
Caelan, whom had recently graduated from ETSU, was firmly rooted in the student ministry at Grace Fellowship with close relationships to many of the students.
God had a plan and introduced the two founders, each with a unique skill set and both with a burning passion for wake surfing and sharing the love of God.
Anna Van Horn
Anna Van Horn joined SonRise in 2023 as a student team leader while attending Providence Academy.
She is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys competing in wakesurf competitions.
Anna is a freshman at the University of Tennessee and is looking forward to pursuing outdoor ministry when she graduates.
She works directly with SonRise social media and brand management.
She believes that God created this beautiful world for us to enjoy.
Anna wants to use her passion of surfing as a platform and opportunity to share the love of Jesus.
Kennon Cook
SonRise Champion
Kennon attends ESTU and will graduate in December 2024.
Kennon has been instrumental in the launch and continued support of SonRise Surf with brand creation, logo design, video and photography, as well as student mentoring and support.
