SURF SCHOOL – NOT SO COOL Just a quick response to your latest article: I support the groms, as I was once one as well. I do not however support the local High School approach to sending hundreds of kids out in the lineup at once. Organized surfing is great, but keep some intelligence about it. Not only do they completely cover the pier, 9th street, Goldenwest, and the Cliffs, they seem to be everywhere there is a wave during the mornings of the school year. Where do they go when school is out? I guess my overall point is that the coaches are not teaching the kids etiquette as my father and mentors taught me. The kids even admit that the coaches encourage cutting each other off. The kids also find comfort as well as aggression when they are in numbers. This is where most go from little-groms to little-punks. Three percent of these kids rip, and I mean rip, the rest will likely let surfing go as many let soccer go. No one needs to contribute a bad attitude, not even myself. I feel that we get our rewards from surfing by enjoying our waves as well as enjoying those we see ride when we are in the water. Think of a good tube ride or any good ride for that matter. We all want it, but watching your dad drain a tube, your friend pulling air, or seeing your young daughter stand for the first time is pretty nice. I enjoy surfing with family, friends, and others more than I enjoy surfing in 100 percent solitude. A great day by yourself every now and then also keeps one going. However, dodge, duck, and/or cover tactics because 15 kids are taking off on the same wave (or on your wave) is plainly unsafe. Particularly when they do not even have a clue what is going on around them. Unfortunately for the masses, bad choices by a few ruin the joy for all. I hate to say it, but until I see or hear something positive from them, I hate the local high school surfing programs. I truly feel the local programs are not contributing to the overall stoke of surfing. It may sound hypocritical here, but any time other than 6 to 7:30am, a grom is golden in my book. They know their place in the lineup and stick to it, just as we all should. The punk attitude for the most part goes somewhere else. My children may someday be involved in the HB school surfing programs. They are still too young. If and when they do, they will for sure be leaders in etiquette and stoke. This is the quality or passion we should pass on. This is what I feel we owe to surfing. Standard HB Resident/20yrs of surfing/3 Generations Riding – Josh Garrison
From Surfline