Surfer girls

Mike Sciacca

You could see the determined look on Kaity Lodge’s face as she

longingly looked out to the ocean.

Kaity, who turned 9 on Monday, sat on the sand on an overcast

morning at Bolsa Chica State Park, wet from head to toe and nursing a

slightly sprained ankle with an ice pack as she watched her fellow

students take part in the HB Wahine All Girl Surf School.

“I really want to get back in the water,” said the Hawes

Elementary School fourth-grader, who had just twisted her ankle after

a turn on her surfboard. “It’s so much fun to catch a wave. I’m

having a lot of fun out here. I was here last year and love the

school. I’ll be back in the water.”

A family atmosphere dominated the beachfront as 44 youngsters --

including 29 girls -- took part in the surf school Friday, said

Debbie Ortiz, who oversees the school along with her husband, Mark.

They hold a camp concurrently for boys during the week before Fourth

of July, Debbie Ortiz said, but it’s otherwise strictly for girls.

The Ortizes also run the HB Wahine All Girls Boarding House on

Main Street.

The HB Wahine All Girl Surf School is in its third year of

operation and holds five- and two-day camps each summer.

The surf school instructs students in the basic fundamentals of

surfing, surfboard and full wetsuit usage, stand-up techniques, yoga

surf stretch, ocean observation and beach safety.

Each camper received a clinic T-shirt, a certificate of

completion, a group photo and a picture of herself surfing.

Participants have come from other states and other continents. Two

French girls who participated in last year’s school are coming back

to Surf City this week for further instruction, Debbie Ortiz said.

With one instructor to every four students, she said the ratio is

the best in the business. The school has 31 instructors.

“Our motto has been to be more concerned with quality, not

quantity,” Debbie Ortiz said. “I think we have become successful

because we run a good, fun camp, where every child gets attention and

instruction. I don’t think our training methods are better than

others, but we’re very organized.

“When we first started the school, this was supposed to be a

part-time, summer thing. This surf school originally started out as a

far-fetched idea, but it’s grown tremendously.”

When the camp opened three years ago, 32 girls had registered, she

said.

By the end of that summer of 2002, school was in for 150 students.

This year, the school will teach up to 600 youngsters, Mark Ortiz

said.

“We also offer private instruction, work with the Girl Scouts and

help out with Serena Brooke Day, as well,” Mark Ortiz said. “Serena

comes out and puts on a surf lesson and contest. We provide the

instructors for the day, and proceeds go to the Serena Brooke

Foundation, which benefits several charities in Orange County,

including Surfrider Foundation and OC Sheepfold Women’s Shelter.”

Serena Brooke Day will be held July 21 at 9th Street.

Several students surfing Friday participated in the HB Wahine All

Girl Surf School last year.

Among those attending Friday’s surf school included a large group

from Orange and Rossmoor.

Danette Mendenhall brought her children in from Orange.

It was the second year her daughter, Kimberly, 11, participated in

the school.

“I’m very happy with the way they run these camps,” Mendenhall

said. “It’s awesome for the kids and the people involved are good,

family people.”