SURFING SOAPBOX: Taught by Laguna’s beaches

Attending last weekend’s Oak Street Surf Jam brought back so many good memories for me. Being a little boy and growing up on the beaches of Laguna Beach, it was events like this and the Brooks Street surfing contest that really shaped my life.

Sadly, it had been more than 10 years since I had been present during one of these great events that take place in our community and on our beaches. Moving forward, I will do my best to be present during such events.

Seeing all the smiles and hearing the laughter was so good. You really can see just how special the beach remains to all of us. From the kids participating to those who made it possible. For us in this town, the beach is everything.

Keeping it clean is vital, and to continue the long tradition of events like this, just as important. I love that there was a beach clean-up before the contest would start. That’s what it is all about from one generation of beachlovers to the next. Teaching them how important it is to care for our environment and our beaches is the way of the future.

For many kids who grow up in this town the beach is a safe and healthy playground, where for the most part the older locals look after the younger ones. The beach and its pecking order of locals can teach many good lessons in life.

Beginning with respect.

In many ways the beach was my first teacher — well, perhaps the first teacher that I listened too. But I’ll tell you once I did begin to listen my life changed. The ocean soon became my best friend and something that I dreamt about, something that gave me hope.

In my time, I have seen many who were once friends make the wrong decisions in life.

Luckily for me I always had the beach.

If I have one word of advice for the younger generations it is this: life is short, make sure those decisions you make are ones you can live with.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and founder of the Aloha School of Surfing. He can be reached at Jamo@Alohaschoolofsurfing.com