Dani Burt Information

Dr. Dani Burt, PT, DPT is a World Adaptive Surfing Champion, Doctor of Physical Therapy, above-knee amputee, and speaker. Her mission is to advocate for equality in adaptive surfing. In 2004, Dani was in a motorcycle crash that put her in a coma for 45 days. The toughest time in her life was when she woke up from her coma. She felt hopeless, lost, confused, hurt. She thought her life was over. Today, she works as a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Sharp Memorial Hospital, the same hospital where she was a patient. She chose that career path because she wants to be there for patients after they go through the darkest moments in their life to show them what is possible. Dani Burt is also the first known female above knee amputee surfer in the world. She has been competing against male competitors since 2010. In 2017, Dani competed in an all women’s division for the first time in the history of adaptive surfing. She was crowned the first ever women’s World Adaptive Surfing Champion at the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships. She also competed against the men and placed 7th overall. She has represented Team USA for 3 consecutive years at the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships. In 2016, she was also crowned the U.S. Adaptive Surfing Champion, defeating male competitors.