Surfing: Sport of Kings (and of SCV Residents?)

Every other surfer had caught a wave in or was still paddling back out and the line-up was now empty. The swell of water that approached me with its promise of hitting the shallower sandbar and evolving into a wave that would peel to the right, sent a rush of adrenaline through my whole body. I turned my old, cheap, semi-waterlogged surfboard toward shore and began paddling. As the wave took form, I felt my board being lifted up by the liquid energy as
the hope that I could successfully negotiate a “dropin” and “bottom-turn”, raced through my mind. It was time. I awkwardly climbed to my feet and slid down the face of the small wave, easing into a right turn at the bottom, and rode with exhilarating pride for forty yards nearly right onto the beach. I was twelve years old and the wave was only three feet height, but as
surfers say, I was “totally stoked”. As years passed, my boards got better and more expensive and the waves became much larger and more challenging, but I will never forget that defining moment and the great sense of accomplishment, confidence, and momentary harmony with the ocean that began the moment I actually “surfed.”
Teaching my own kids to surf has been a great highlight of my life as well as working with SCV youth and teaching them to surf! It is my desire to pass on my love and passion for the incredible sport of surfing and its potential to develop character, life skills, and respect for the ocean and its creatures! In our 15th year, this Spring and Summer, Surf’s Up Surf
School will again be offering awesome surfing opportunities for kids and adults alike. We off er camps, private lessons, birthday parties, day trips, and corporate events. I hope you will check us out and get “stoked” as well.
For more information please call or text John Domke at 661-993-0340. Or check us out on the web at www.surfsupscv.com.