Campus Times
April 8, 2005
Southern California, known for its sunny days and beautiful beaches, is a haven for surfing, an ever popular past time that many people, including University of La Verne students, have taken up as part of the Southern California lifestyle.
Everyone who lives in Southern California faces the stereotype of the surfer, living in a bathing suit and spending every day at the beach. In some cases, this is true. Those who have taken up surfing have developed a passion for the sport and try to hit to the beaches as much as possible.
Abby Lee, a freshman at ULV, has been surfing for two years.
Originally from Hawaii, Lee taught herself to surf because she said “It looked fun and I lived at the beach.”
While attending school in California, she is only able to surf twice during the school year. At home, on the other hand, Lee hits the beach and surfs every day during the summer.
“I feel relaxed. I feel free,” said Lee, about being in the water and surfing. “It seems like you are in a different place.”
Like Lee, many try surfing because they think it looks fun, they see it on television or because their friends surf.
Many say that there are benefits to the sport of surfing. Not only is it a type of stress relief to some, but it’s a way of exercising and keeping in shape.
“Its stress relieving and relaxing. You don’t think about anything except the wave you are trying to catch,” said Brian Brandt, a local lawyer and avid surfer from Upland who has been surfing for about 25 years.
Like many who surf, Brandt was looking for an extra sport to do. He ended up picking up the sport while attending college at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Currently, he is passing the sport to his young daughters, teaching them the craft of the sport.
On a recent trip to Hawaii, freshman Stephanie Guerrero gave surfing a shot taking lessons for the first time.
“I thought it was exciting and I liked being in the water,” Guerrero said.
She also said that she doesn’t plan on becoming an avid surfer anytime soon, but she definitely wants to do it once in a while.
“When you try something new, it’s a feeling you get inside that makes that day so much better,” Lee said.
As summer is just around the corner, local beaches will be crowded and the water will be packed with people, young and old, looking for that perfect wave.
Marilee Lorusso can be reached at mlorusso@ulv.edu.