Boards representing various eras and design were set up on display.

“It doesn’t seem like 20 years,” said Dan Forte, the man behind Dano Surfboards.

Dano bought his first blank 20 years ago, and made it under his mom’s house in Laguna Hills.

“It was kind of weird, but I rode it,” he said.

Soon, friends were hitting him up for boards. And a business began.

“It’s awesome. I get to do what I’m passionate about and love everyday. I’m truly blessed, you can’t ask for a better life,” he said.

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But none of that mattered to Forte, who paddled into waves non-stop during a surf-a-thon fundraiser Tuesday morning for his friend Jay Thomas, who suffered a spinal cord injury last  March while surfing Huntington Beach Pier.

“I think everyone is going to be a little surprised,” Forte said of the number of waves he caught. “I was trying to get higher.”

Forte, who owns Dano Surfboards in Costa Mesa, was able to catch 80 waves during the surf-a-thon at Blackies, just north of the Newport Pier.

About 60 people pledged money for the cause, with the idea that they’d donate $1  or more per wave.

A total of $150 per wave was promised, meaning the surf-a-thon could have raised up to $12,000 to help Jay with costs such as medication, therapy, transportation and more.

Thomas was injured after heading down the line on a wave south of Huntington Beach Pier, where another surfer was paddling out past the breaking waves. In a split second decision, Jay dived forward – head first – to miss the surfer.

Jay’s head hit a sandbar under the water, breaking his neck. He was face down in the water and unable to move until surfers came to help.

His C-6, incomplete injury left him paralyzed with only movement from his chest up, and no use of his hands.

Jay’s brother James said he’s amazed by the people who gave money during the surf-a-thon.

“I think it’s awesome. It shows you how many good, solid individuals are out there,” he said. “I just hope they know I’d do the same for them.”

In the first hour, Dano was surfing about one wave per minute - quickly returning to the waves after cruising in on one, not wasting a second if another bump in the water appeared.

Rick Ischinger, who owns Rick’s Surf School in Newport, donated $2 per wave.

“I don’t even want to know,” Ischinger said with a chuckle, before Dano was finished taking on the waves.

“I might have to pay this in installments. But that’s all right,” he said.  ”Whatever it takes, we’ll get (Jay) back in the water.”

Rich Knight brought hats down from his company GMPC, selling them for $10, with the proceeds going to Jay.

Knight had a close call with paralysis in 2005, after a car accident fractured his spinal cord.

“When you hear of someone having spinal cord injury or back injury, it shocks you into realizing all of us have had close calls. You realize we’re all lucky to be surfing and walking, and that’s why we want to help,” he said.

After Forte came in from his surf, Knight broke out his checkbook and wrote a check for $800 - his promise to pay $10 per wave.

“I’m stoked to do it,” he said.

Please call 949-515-8455, or email Jay’s brother James at jtgdshc@yahoo.com, to help.

Previous posts on Jay Thomas:

Update on paralyzed surfer; They Will Surf Again event - April 22nd, 2009

Benefit concert for local surfer who suffered spinal cord injury - April 17th, 2009

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