Boys And Girls Club Surf Day

Boys And Girls Club Surf Day

Last summer we had the pleasure of taking a small group of young people from the Salem Boys and Girls Club out for their first surfing experience. It had a strong impact on them as you can see from the video above. It equally had as strong an effect on us when you hear their words of what the couple of hours at the beach and in the ocean did for them and their outlooks on life.

We first covered ocean safety, rip currents and being aware of all the different ocean users in Pacific City. This was followed by learning proper surfing technique before we paddled out. Conditions were excellent with light winds and small waves. This allowed everyone a chance to catch multiple waves, with a good number making it to their feet and riding all the way to the beach. For all the successful rides, the real reward was experiencing something that most days would be out of reach for them. We followed the surf session with a beach bonfire and freshly cooked crab kindly donated by Marty Wisehart. The group enjoyed the fresh seafood and the unique experience of sitting next to the fire and tossing the shells onto the sand after eating the meat.

As surfers, we can easily forget the power that being in the ocean has on our lives and the contributions the act of surfing gives us mentally. It is often only when seeing the stoke on new surfers face’s that we are reminded that we are surfing for happiness. You might be trying to get better with each session, but your measurement at the end of the day is in joy, a difficult thing to quantify, but you know it when you experience it...

These kids got it, and as you can see from the video, a couple of future surfers were born that day! I can’t wait to see them in the water and share a few waves.

Words by Gary Gregg. Video & Photos by Nathan Holstedt

Latest Articles

Visit the blog

“How would you describe the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic” is a question I get asked during interviews ahead of each year’s contest. The simple answer is to say that it’s a local surf contest put on by a dedicated group of volunteers. The truth is that the contest is something more than that. It has its own soul. It has a life that we and the organizers before us can’t take credit for. I would like to think we had something to do with it, but the reality is the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic has become something far beyond anything anyone ever imagined.

It's that time of year again, and we're opening registration for our 2025 Youth Surf Camps! Youth surf camps are open to kids ages 10 - 16 with some flexibility, and all levels are welcome!

Both cheers of support and loud laughter were heard throughout Pacific City this past weekend as surfers and spectators gathered on the beach to root on the participants in the annual Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic. This year marks the 25th running of the beloved community event.
Started in 1998 by Bob and Michelle Ledbetter, the contest has grown to become a staple of the NW surf community. It not only attracts surfers throughout Oregon, but this year saw people from Canada, California, Washington and even Hawaii make the pilgrimage.