Surf Lessons

by Carla Morton

My daughter just finished a week of Surf Camp. What a dream, right? Gosh, I’ve been envious all week! As a parent I try to offer my daughter opportunities to discover things that she will love and grab on to. Of course, I was always into dance and art so I thought she would be the same.. Nope. She has tried, ballet, hip-hop, horse back riding, soccer, softball, gymnastics, acting… Nothing has stuck in a big way… but I think surfing may her thing. Big Dog Surf Camp is run by Ian Glover who is also a teacher during the school year. Ian has an amazing ability to connect with kids and did a fantastic job in hiring some of the nicest, coolest, and most professional group of guys I have ever met. From what I understand, these guys are also some of the best surfers in the Bay Area. (Okay, so for the record.. they are all really nice on the eyes too.. it’s a surfer smorgasbord.. a bit overwhelming actually.) The first day of camp was daunting as my daughter was one of the only young girls in the camp. She cried the night before when I told her that her instructors were men and not women. I certainly remember the terror of going to ski lessons as a little kid with a bunch of ski bums who never took off their sunglasses and had that constant, blank, cold stare.

The guys at Big Dog Surf Camp however, are just the opposite. They are totally engaging, sweet as the day is long, and completely focused on the kids. Each day after camp, I’d hear a cacophony of reports from various coaches who reported on my daughter’s progress. She was up and riding waves in no time! My daughter quickly bonded with all of the coaches and by the 4th day, they had endearingly coined her The “Surf Muffin.”

Really, in the end it’s amazing what we do for our kids right? Then it was Friday, the last day that gave me a slight feeling of melancholy. Summer is almost over. Where did it go? My daughter not only found a new love (surfing), but connected with new friends, cute guy surf instructors, and a new pet name. At the end of the day, she was given a gift of a bright summer yellow T-Shirt.

The front says, “I surfed with the Big Dog”. Enough said.