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Monday, May 7, 2001
Surf stars gives kids free lessons
Forboding skies don’t dampen enthusiasm
By Andrea Wall
Staff Writer
PORT ARANSAS - The surfboards - all different colors and sizes - looked like seashells scattered along the beach.
Close to 100 kids ran excitedly, seemingly undaunted as the pouring rain beat down upon them.
And why would they be anything but thrilled? Six monster professional surfers came to the Coastal Bend to teach some lucky youngsters how to surf. For free.
Kids from ages 5-14 years old were given free lessons on safety, surfing etiquette and basic technique at the Quiksilver Surf Camp held Saturday at Fish Pass.
Todd Kline, Jeff Booth, Peter Mel, Josh Hoyer, Kenny Kozak and Matt Kechele all joined forces to teach surfing to area youth from 8 a.m. to almost 1 p.m.
The pro surfers ranged from seasoned veterans such as Kechele and Booth to young aerial surfers like the 23-year-old Hoyer.
An impressive list
Kechele, 38, was the 1992 Association of Surfing Professionals shortboard champ. He started doing surf camps with Quiksilver over seven years ago.
Prior to this year, the camps had only been conducted on the East Coast. Along with the one held Saturday, there has been one in Galveston and a few on the West Coast.
"I love teaching these surf-stoked kids as much as I actually like surfing myself," Kechele said. "I feel like I am giving something back to the sport by passing along what knowledge I have."
Hoyer makes jaw drops with his ability to grab mad air and perform aerial tricks that have skaters taking notes.
Mel is considered one of the best big-wave surfers around. He rides waves that are too huge to even paddle into.
"Tow-in surfing" is a type of surfing done when paddling out is not an option. Jet-skis tow surfers and their boards out to swells that are between 50 to 60 feet, then let them loose.
"I can't believe these guys were here," said Reggie Torrefranco, a manager at Benjamin's Surf Shop. "It is a really big deal and it is huge for the sport. To think that these kids are learning from some of the best, is really exciting."
Gracing our waves
Cole Martinez, 6, paddled out slowly on a board that was nearly three times his size. He concentrated as he tried to remember what he had learned about keeping his balance and not letting his feet touch the water.
After a few minutes of waiting, he paddled on top of a just-breaking wave and stood up on his board.
Only a few seconds passed before Cole fell off. As his head popped out of the water, you would have expected to have seen disappointment, but instead a huge smiled flashed across his face.
"It is so fun when you stand up on the board," said Cole, a kindergartner at Mireles Elementary. "I love to surf, but only if the water is warm - never, ever, ever if it is cold."
The assortment of surfers that graced our local beach was unreal. South Texas might not have the biggest waves, or the most powerful ones, but we do have people that love to surf, regardless.
"People down here are just really big supporters of surfing," said Kline, 29. "Whether or not you get the best surf down here doesn't matter. We came to give back to everyone and show our appreciation for their constant support."
Contact Andrea Wall at 886-3631 or walla@caller.com
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© 2001,
a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
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