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Surfing
For Credits
Torrey Pines high has a wonderful surfing
program as well as both girls and boys surf teams. So
do many other coastal high schools jr. highs and universities.
Surfing P.E. originated at San Dieguito Union High School
in Encinitas. Students got together with coach Al Southworth,
the P.E. instructor and got a petition going with the
goal of enough names to show student interest. It wasn't
long before the list was full. It was so popular that
the kids were divided into two classes that were held
at Cardiff Reef each alternating days. That was way
back in 1974.
The original purpose of surfing P.E.
was to promote physical conditioning and good health.
Today studies show that surfing goes beyond physical
benefits. One study discovered a direct correlation
between balance and the way we hold our heads with increased
intelligence. Experts are saying that regular practice
of surfing can increase awareness and IQ and overall
mental well-being.
An interesting observation is that after
25 years of surfing programs in the school systems that
no one has developed a solid introductory surfing class.
With insurance costs up, surfing getting more crowded
and the soaring fascination of surfing, wouldn't it
make sense to have an introductory to surfing course
as a prerequisite to surfing P.E.? After all they don't
teach surfing at Harvard. Where is one supposed to get
the required information to enter surfing safely and
efficiently? Lets not leave out surfing etiquette and
respect for local surfers and beaches. A bit of surfing
history would be great also.
There are many things surfers who've
been surfing 20 years or longer still don't know and
they won't unless someone tells them. How are inexperienced
children and adults supposed to know unless they are
told? Should they experiment and go out and get caught
in a rip tide or learn about water safety, C.P.R. and
ocean education before suffering the slings and arrows
of outrageous fortune? Even good surfers could come
out of a surfing class with a broader ocean knowledge
base and deeper understanding of surfing form and technique.
The time has come for an introductory
surfing class to be taught in our school systems. In
fact it is over due. If schools can afford rubber footballs
and basketballs surely they can afford a few rubber
surfboards and get with the times.
Students, parents, surfers alike we
value your opinion. Would a quality introductory surfing
program be a positive, negative or neutral thing? What
are your thoughts and ideas? The views that best represent
both sides will be expressed in a future column.
Desire, knowledge combined with action
equal success. Aloha, see you in the surf.
The Willis Bros. are surfing experts
recognized for surfing the worlds largest waves and
teaching thousands in Hawaii and California to surf.
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