The Daily Froth X Native Like Water
On June 31st, at Scripps Marine Institute, Fulcrum participated in an event put on by the kind souls at Native Like Water. Donating a free surf clinic to a group of 40 Native American teenagers from reservations throughout California, this event was an absolute treat to be apart of.
In this edition of The Daily Froth, I’ll dive into the benefits surfing and how it positively impacts our community. It is because of this experience with Native Like Water, that I believe we can greatly influence the lives of our fellow Californians for the better if we just add water.
That morning felt different, the June Gloom that traditionally hangs over the coast was lost in an electric blue sky. The weather was warm, the waves off La Jolla playful and perfect for beginners, and the vibes on the beach were spiritual and lighthearted. We unloaded the van, and distributed our Catch Surf “Odyssea Logs” to the eager group of teenagers. I’m not sure who was more excited!
We formed a large circle on the beach as Kumeyaay elder, Sam Chavez, led the group in a traditional Native American prayer. Fulcrum surf Coaches, Pat, Josh, and myself, had never experienced anything quite like it and felt blessed to be part of an intimate and ancient tradition.
Their was a certain rhythmic music to his prayer that gave us a renewed sense of passion for today’s mission. We were here to spread our love of surfing with these kids who might never experience the thrill of riding waves otherwise.
The event accomplished the non profit organization’s goal of providing a platform to enrich the youth in culture, science, health, conservation, and advocacy. Volunteers from Scripps Institute were on hand to give an educational seminar about the local wildlife, Sambazon provided nutritious acai bowls, as group leaders from Native Like Water assured that our impact on the beach was minimal.
Due to the large number of students, we broke the beach up into groups of 12 as they completed an educational circuit with the surf lesson being the crown jewel on the day. A personal highlight for myself was watching Sam Chavez teach the kids traditional Native American games that involved wooden sticks that he hand carved himself that morning. As a volunteer, I was able to share my love of surfing and in return, receive a truly enriching cultural experience.
So why is surfing such a positive past time for people in any walk of life to get involved with?
Surfing provides a focus into which one can base their life around, it teaches respect for nature as well as respect for our fellow surfers. Surfing transcends language and cultural barriers as smiles and hoots are the only forms of communication in need. Today, at the Native Like Water event, I saw kids who have had their lives plagued with alcoholism, drug abuse, and cultural isolation, beam with smiles as bright as the summer sun. When the entire group of Native American kids decided to go back in the ocean for a surf and swim together, we knew that we had accomplished our goal of introducing these amazing kids with our play ground. It is our hope, that through these cultural events, Fulcrum can spread the love of surfing and impact our world for the better because of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urnIpfNTEL0