San Diego, California
Mario Ordoñez-Calderón is a Navy veteran, Indigenous Mayan, and community advocate dedicated to increasing ocean access and stewardship for underserved youth. As the co-founder and Executive Director of Un Mar de Colores, he leads transformative programs that blend surf therapy, environmental education, and mentorship, nurturing the next generation of ocean stewards.
Mario’s connection to the ocean began while stationed at Camp Pendleton, where he connected with surfing as a source of inspiration and resilience. Recognizing that systemic barriers often prevent underserved communities from accessing coastal spaces, he created Un Mar de Colores to ensure that youth from historically excluded backgrounds can experience the ocean’s transformative power.
Under his leadership, Un Mar de Colores has developed impactful, boundary-spanning initiatives. The Generación SEA: Binational Youth Climate Academy is a U.S.-Mexico program that equips young leaders with the knowledge and skills to address cross-border climate challenges, integrating community science, coastal resilience, and Indigenous ecological practices.
Beyond his nonprofit work, Mario serves on the Environmental Justice Advisory Board for the California Ocean Protection Council, advising the state on coastal policies through an equity-focused lens. His leadership has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the CA District 77 Environmental Hero Award, for his contributions to environmental justice and youth empowerment.
A passionate surfer and advocate for reconnecting people with nature, Mario envisions a future where all youth—regardless of background—have the opportunity to find healing, joy, and purpose through the ocean.
What inspired you to become an 11th Hour Racing ambassador?
The ocean completely shaped my life. It’s given me joy, resilience, and a sense of belonging. But my connection to the water started long before I ever touched a surfboard. As a kid, I swam in the teal waters of the cenotes in the Yucatán, feeling an ancestral connection to the way water moves through the land. Later in life, when surfing found me, that connection deepened, and I began to understand the ocean as both a place of adventure and healing.
Within the sport, I quickly realized that so many kids who look like me or come from similar backgrounds don’t have the same opportunity to experience the ocean’s power. That realization changed everything for me.
I started Un Mar de Colores to make sure more young people, especially those from historically excluded communities, could experience the ocean the way I did—as a place of belonging, discovery, and connection. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how one day in the water can transform a kid’s confidence, how learning about their local coastline makes them feel more rooted in their environment, and how simply having access to nature can open up entirely new possibilities.
That’s why I was inspired to become an 11th Hour Racing Ambassador—because I believe protecting the ocean starts with helping people build a real relationship with it. 11th Hour Racing’s commitment to ocean conservation aligns with what I strive for every day: helping young people not only experience the ocean but also feel empowered to protect it.
Why are you passionate about ocean conservation?
The ocean has given me more than just waves to ride. It’s been a source of clarity, and identity. I recognize that the ocean is a force that shapes cultures, sustains communities, and demands care in return.
But I also can’t ignore the disparities in access- who gets to experience the ocean, who feels safe in it, and who is included in conversations about protecting it. Too often, the same communities that have been historically excluded from coastal spaces are also the ones most impacted by climate change, and environmental degradation. I believe conservation can’t just be about protecting ecosystems—it has to include people, coastal cultures, and histories.
That’s why I do this work. Conservation is about connection, to the ocean, to each other, and to the places that sustain us. If we want to protect the ocean for future generations, we have to make sure those generations see themselves reflected in it, feel a sense of belonging in it, and are given the tools to fight for it.
Project Name: Un Mar de Colores
Project Mission: Fostering a sustainable future through ocean recreation, hands-on ecological learning, and long-term youth mentorship.