Nurturing the young surfer

Suzie Harrison

In its first year during its second week, the Donavon

Frankenreiter Surf School aptly displays its students paddling out

and riding in the waves like they had been doing it a long while -- a

posse of young surfers being born.

The new Laguna Beach surf school came to life through Donavon

Frankenreiter and James Pribram who are both professional surfers and

Laguna locals who run the surf camp.

Frankenreiter went to Billabong, a surf-wear company that sponsors

Frankenreiter and Pribram, when they bought Second Reef Surf Shop in

Laguna and mentioned the desire to start a surf camp in Laguna.

“I told owner Paul Naude that I’d really to love to run a surf

camp out of Second Reef. It’s a great place for kids to meet in the

mornings and walk right across the street to Thalia (street). It’s

local, it’s great,” Frankenreiter said.

The duo partnered with the city and those interested must go

through the recreation department to sign up.

The surf school is a week-long surfing and ocean awareness program

for girls and boys and educates its students on the fundamentals of

surfing, as well as marine safety.

The camp is for children age 10 and older and for beginners,

immediate and advanced surfers. It’s limited to 20 students per

session. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“It’s fun and really good. I’m from Michigan and it was my first

time surfing and I know how to stand up and everything,” said Norman

Kherkher, 14. “It’s great all that they’ve taught.”

Pribram said he loves working with the kids. He has been a

professional surfer for 12 years.

“It’s a great feeling to be in Laguna Beach and teach kids

something that I love so much and has been so helpful to me in my

life,” Pribram said. “I feel like I’m passing the torch by teaching

the kids.”

“We teach them what to look for, basic beach conditions, how to be

safe, what some of the risks are such as exposed reefs or riptides,

things of that nature,” he added.

He also explained that although it’s important to get them up and

surfing, it’s more important for the kids to learn safety so when

they are on their own they’ll be safe and know what to look for and

ask the lifeguards about tide conditions and swells. The group sets

up a program with the lifeguards to give presentations to the kids.

“They love that we want to provide some curriculum as well.”

Ally Dixon, 13, and her sister Sunny, 11, both expressed how much

fun they were having at camp and how much they are learning.

“It’s the first time I have really been surfing,” Ally said. “I

stood up on my first time. I am really learning a lot.”

“It’s really fun,” Sunny said. “I don’t think you’d ever get

bored; they do a great job.”

With the look of all the smiles on the kids’ faces it seems to be

a tremendous success already.

“It’s nice for me to give back through my surfing,” Pribram said.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.