The Dana Point Surf Club and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley join forces to celebrate California Surfing Day in Doheny
In honor of California Surfing Day on Wednesday, September 20th, the Dana Point Surf Club and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley joined forces for an afternoon of fun under the sun at Doheny State Beach.
The surf club members, including professional surf instructors and certified lifeguards, shared the excitement of riding waves with a group of 10- to 16-year-old students who had not had much time to surf before, ensuring an extremely positive first experience for the boys and girls Girl.
As one of the first clubs to join the West Coast Board Riders coalition of surf clubs along the California coast, Dana Point Surf Club embodies the true community spirit that is a core tenet of the emerging surf club movement.
“We have always tried to put community above competition,” said Eric Diamond, president of the Dana Point Surf Club. “Many of us were lucky enough to grow up on the beach and spend our lives surfing, but not everyone in our community had that opportunity. We want to share it and be inclusive. We want the club to be a force for good that puts service to our community above all else.”
In 2022, the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club’s Above and Beyond Gala recognized the club’s work by honoring Diamond and James Littlejohn, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, for their community service.
More than 30 volunteers greeted children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley on Wednesday after they were picked up by the Dana Point Trolley after school and taken to Doheny Beach so they could prepare for an afternoon in the water.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate California Surfing Day than with this volunteer program. It brings everyone together on the beach to honor our surfing heritage here in Dana Point. Additionally, by sharing their expertise, our surf club members will help encourage the next generation to experience the thrill of surfing,” said Dana Point Mayor Mike Frost, who was also scheduled to be in attendance Wednesday afternoon.
“Seeing the beach, feeling the sand between your toes and catching a good wave is not a luxury that many can afford. That’s why the relationship between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and these community partners is so important. For many of our youth, this will be their first time surfing, let alone being on a beach,” said Gabriella Littlejohn, director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley Area.
Littlejohn added that these events will become lasting memories for the club’s youth.
“The confidence they exude when they first stand up is almost as rewarding as seeing their smile,” she said. “It truly takes a village, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley is fortunate that the village continues to support our youth in the community and find ways for them to become who they want to be.”
The Dana Point Surf Club worked closely with the City of Dana Point, Killer Dana Surf Shop, Dana Point Harbor Partners and the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary to turn the vision into reality.
Kudos to everyone who made it possible. Surfing is a gift and it’s about sharing that gift. The West Coast Board Riders 2023-24 season begins in November. Stay tuned for more from Dana Point Surf Club soon.
