Surfing Laguna: Military children learn the ropes

This past weekend at Camp Pendleton Beach, near San Onofre, Laguna surfers from all walks of life pitched in to teach military kids and their parents a thing or two about the joys of riding waves.

Laguna was well represented with lifeguards, doctors, architects, artists and surf rats — just to name a few who signed up to help out with this worthy surf adventure.

The folks who live on base are privy to the surf break known as Church, which is an amazing wave that can offer up gentle rollers for beginners, but due to several reasons the kids rarely get to experience the rush of riding their local waves.

Military mom Maranda Hill explained why this might be.

“Many of the soldiers and parents didn’t grow up near the ocean and don’t have any surf experience. Also they are away from base for extended periods of time, sometimes overseas, and can’t get down there as much as they would like to teach their kids or learn to themselves.”

The Laguna crew brought all the needed gear — boogie boards, surfboards, stand-up paddle boards and a ton of surf experience to the party and worked with more than 50 excited kids and parents out in the surf for a day that was filled with long rides, big smiles and too many high fives to count.

Marine Sgt. Ben Holmes from Texas was overheard during the lunchtime feast saying, “Where’s my recruiter, I’m gonna re-enlist for a few more years if it means I can keep surfing on base.”

And 10-year-old Brianna added, “I love, love, love the feeling of riding waves, and I saw a family of dolphins!”

It was a special day to share the gift of surfing with the families of our armed forces that are valiantly defending our precious freedom.

A huge thanks to all who participated, and for more information on how you can pitch in for next month’s Military Surf Jam go to www.souladventuresinc .blogspot.

CHRIS WILLIAMS is a surfing coach and Laguna Beach resident, and father of four surf-crazy sons. He can be reached at chris@soulsurfingschool.com or (949) 497-5918.