Surfers ride the waves through quarantine
The waters of Southern California stayed open (for the most part) for surfers to ride the waves all summer despite most sports being cancelled due to social distancing orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the surfing community is small in Newbury Park, there are a few students who have a huge passion for the sport.
For Elizabeth Herman, junior, surfing is a passion that is in her blood. “[My mother] really supported me, especially when I was beginning and taught me the surfing community etiquette and that was really nice to get my way in there and make friends.” Both Herman’s mother and her grandmother are surfers, and her grandmother was the first woman to win a competition in Huntington Beach.
Although everyone had different experiences learning how to ride the waves, many agree that the learning process is rather challenging. Raj Wei, senior, had the opportunity to learn surfing through John Abney, NPHS English teacher. “I never caught a wave. It took me about two years to catch a wave, so yeah it was really difficult,” said Wei.
Once they started to get the hang of it, surfers like Chase Ricket, senior, loved to go out on the ocean as much as possible. “It was hard balancing on the board but I got this new board for Christmas from my dad one year and actually after that I picked it up pretty fast.” Ricket tries to go out with his friends or dad at least once a week and surfs around two to three hours per trip.
Although there were many downsides to the COVID-19 pandemic, the quarantine gave a new opportunity for surfers to go out and improve their skills. “There were still beaches in Ventura and Oxnard that were still open even when they were supposed to be shut down. Everyone worked together to find spots that were still open (during the closures)” Herman said. Herman goes to the beach nearly every day to surf for up to four hours. During this time, she believes she has improved immensely.
An overall experience these surfers have found is the beauty and serenity of being in the ocean. “Just being out in the water when the sun sets, it’s just so beautiful out there and the water is so nice. Just being out there with your friends is so much fun” said Wei.
