Known for its cold waters and high-performance waves, the Bay Area is home to one of the most renowned surf cultures in the world. Ranging from weekend goers, early birds, competitive surfers and high school students, the waters surrounding the Bay invite any and all.

In such a surf-dense area, it’s a shame that Redwood, and schools in Marin alike, don’t recognize this ever-growing culture. Sure, Redwood gives students the freedom to create their own surf communities, such as senior Hudson Quirk’s Surf Club, but Redwood has never had an actual team. Redwood has not given the opportunity for surfers to broadcast their skills on a competitive level. It’s plain and simple: Redwood should have a surf team.

Having fallen in love with Marin’s surf culture myself, I’ve witnessed the amount of time and effort that my peers put into the sport of surfing. But surfing is quick to be dismissed as a hobby, undermining the work students put in to hone their skills.

Many consider surfing to be this novel activity that only a select few people develop a skill for. While surfers at Redwood and beyond may find a liking in the seemingly exclusive nature of their sport, they are often disappointed when their sport is interpreted as something that doesn’t deserve recognition.

“It’s unfortunate that students with such a passion for surfing go underappreciated,” said junior Kamlyn Mohr, avid surfer in Redwood’s surf community. “What separates someone like me who spends tons of time out in the water improving my skills and someone who goes to the gym to improve their jumpshot?”

Furthermore, spending time out in the ocean surfing is therapeutic. Quirk describes being in the water as his break from academic pressure and workload. 

“There’s something about being in the water that really calms me down,” Quirk said. “Advocating on behalf of my clubmates, they definitely feel the same way.”

Studies reveal that surfing can improve emotional, physical, and mental well-being, making it a genuine outlet for student wellbeing. According to a 2023 pilot study on surf therapy published by Science Direct, students in a six-week surf program showed a 57 percent effect-size reduction in depressive symptoms and a 43 percent reduction in anxiety symptoms compared with a control group.

Instead of treating surfing like a hobby, Redwood should recognize surfing for the intense and demanding sport that it is in the same way it recognizes sports such as football and basketball. Surfers train before sunrise, spend hours perfecting their technique, and take strenuous steps toward improving, all of which are qualities we celebrate in other athletes. Much like the introduction of girls flag football as an official Redwood sport, a Redwood surf team could create a whole new exciting atmosphere for athletes and spectators.

Creating a team at Redwood would put surfing on the map for the entire student body, ultimately encouraging them to get outside and reap the mental and physical benefits.

In a community full of surfers, the absence of a Redwood surf team is a disrespectful notion to the kids who put countless hours into perfecting their craft. Nothing separates those who play in the water and those who play on the courts and fields.