Surfing with The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Activity League (SAL)   

SAL has been surfing with the youth of Santa Cruz since 2001.  SAL recently
held its 6^th Annual Grom Surfest at The Hook at Pleasure Point. The Grom Surfest
is a free contest for kids ages 17 and under. This year we had a 3 year old boy and
a 6 year old girl participate. Each year nearly 90 kids participate in short board,
long board, body board, and the "push in" division which is the crowd favorite.
In this event, parents push their young surfer into the waves and parents are
encouraged and allowed to be in the water with their surfer aged 10 and under.
Lunch is provided by The Aloha Island Grille.  The event is run by volunteers and
the Pleasure Point Night Fighters.

Last year, SAL and State Parks Life Guards took students from Lakeview Middle School
After School Program surfing. The outing was such a success it will surely became an
annual event. One of the students said it was one of the few times he had been to the beach
even though he lives in Watsonville . The same student expressed interest in becoming a
lifeguard and said he was going to enter the Jr. Life Guard program at Manresa Beach .

SAL has been the major sponsor of The International Surfing Federation (ISF) since 2002. 
The ISF is an organized Surf League for Santa Cruz County High School and Junior High
School student surfers. Lt. Amy Christey coached Aptos Jr. High’s Surf Team for 5 years.
Deputy Joe Clarke coached New Brighton Middle School for 3 years and is currently the
coach of Soquel High School ’s Surf Team.

Deputy Joe Clarke said, “Surfing and the Ocean has a way of bringing people together.  SAL’s 
Grom Surfest and Deputies taking time to surf and mentor the kids has helped bridge the Sheriff’s
Office with its Community”.