Surf Club Unrecognized

Mission Statement
The Surf Club is an open space for all those with a passion for the ocean and wave riding activities. Surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, and any other type of wave activities are welcomed. The Surf Club will provide a forum for surf history, board shaping, and beach ecology, while providing a natural classroom for discussion and learning. Multiple trips to the beautiful New England beaches will be arranged throughout the year based on swell conditions and participant availability. All skill levels welcome, however confidence in the ocean is necessary. We will discuss various safety skills such as identifying rip currents and risk management, and all members intending to surf will have to perform a basic water fitness test. Surfing is a relatively safe sport and there are very few serious accidents on record, however the ocean is dynamic and all members must be comfortable in changing ocean conditions.

Surfing is a deeply centering activity and we would love to bring that to the Hampshire community. The act of surfing is at a basic level a connection with the ocean and takes an emptiness of mind to surf in certain challenging conditions. Seeing the ocean in flux and responding appropriately is a skill that echoes over into all facets of life and can help immensely when faced with changing conditions. In addition, surfing is an intensely physical activity and students will receive obvious health benefits from this highly aerobic exercise. Proper diet, breathing, and stretching will be encouraged and demonstrated by signers.

During the semester the signers will arrange and give a lecture and discussion on surf history and culture with an emphasis on ecological surfboard design and evolution. There is a strong base of environmentally progressive surfboard manufacturers in the Northeast and their story will be told to all who are interested. The Surf Club is an open space for all those with a passion for the ocean and wave riding activities. Surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, and any other type of wave activities are welcomed. The Surf Club will provide a forum for surf history, board shaping, and beach ecology, while providing a natural classroom for discussion and learning. Multiple trips to the beautiful New England beaches will be arranged throughout the year based on swell conditions and participant availability. All skill levels welcome, however confidence in the ocean is necessary. We will discuss various safety skills such as identifying rip currents and risk management, and all members intending to surf will have to perform a basic water fitness test. Surfing is a relatively safe sport and there are very few serious accidents on record, however the ocean is dynamic and all members must be comfortable in changing ocean conditions.