Giving back to the community

On Sept. 14, we sponsored a free learn to windsurf day event for Project AVARY (Alternate Ventures for At-Risk Youth) at our facility at Crown Beach in Alameda.   Project AVARY is a bay area non profit that helps children & youth with incarcerated parents.   Their mission is to help these children develop the skills, confidence and positive life views that promote healthy personal development and responsibility to the community.

In addition to our staff, we had 5 wonderful community volunteers come to help us teach 15 teens how to windsurf.     (THANKS! to all of the volunteers!).  We all loved working with the kids, but more importantly the kids loved it.  Here's what one of the children had to say in the Project Avary monthly newsletter:

"In October the teens all got together and went to a Windsurfing Adventure Day.  We met up with the Windsurfing instructors at the Boardsports School.  They set us up with wetsuits, we had to wear them because the water is so cold.  The wetsuits were so tight I couldn't stand it.  After we suited up the teachers showed us how to windsurf.  The broke it down, how to do it, and set us up on practice boards on the sand.  They explained how to properly get the sail up, and how to get up on the board.  After that we split up into groups, two teens per guide.  they gave us more instruction in the water.  It was hard.  The sail felt like it weighted a million pounds, because I couldn't put it up. After about 20 minutes, it seemed like everybody got the hang of it!  For some reason me and Jovon got the hang of it a lot quicker.  Our teacher said that was because windsurfing is a lot like skateboarding.  Overall the day was a lot of fun. A big thank you to Boardsports School in Alameda.   We all want to come back because it was very exciting, I hope we get to do it again!"

To learn more about Project AVARY, please go to: www.ProjectAVARY.org.  If you would like to volunteer for next year's event, please email us at info@boardsportsschool.com

Full Moon Stand Up Paddle at Crissy Field

Weather conditions were absolutely perfect for our full moon paddle and bbq at Crissy last night. We arrived at the beach around 5pm to clear blue skies, calm winds, and warm temperatures in the high 60s. I tested my new waterproof, shockproof, tiny little Olympus camera out by taking a quick panoramic shot of the beach. A picture perfect evening indeed!
We debated taking 2 cars to get the boards down to the beach, but in the end we went for the 5 boards on 1 car challenge. Since we are only a 5 minute drive away from Crissy Field, we decided to go for it and got the boards on the car and down to the beach, no problema! Larry greeted us at Crissy and was envious of our crazy pile of SUP boards.

Abigail inspired the plans for the full moon evening. She had wanted to do her annual full moon hike, but with the popularity of (and our recent addiction to) stand up paddling a.k.a. SUP, we ended up hijacking her event. Thanks to Abigail for the full moon inspiration!

Abigail, Rebecca, and Jamie commenced the paddle right around 6:15. They were just in time to paddle towards the bridge and watch the sunset from the water. Kirsten arrived from work and quickly joined them, while I diligently worked on more important things, like cooking the yummy chicken on the bbq.

Once Susan arrived and took over on the bbq, I went down to catch the crew coming in off the water. They had paddled up and along the beach towards the Golden Gate bridge. All the windsurfers and kiters had come back before sunset...with the wind abating for good.

The serenity of flat water stand up paddling with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, a tough to beat bay outing indeed.

Here a classic view of a moon framed by 2 Naish stand up paddle boards...with Rebecca and Kirsten both beaming in step with the full moon.

The outrigger paddlers were out enjoying the full moon as well.

I waited to head out once the moon had risen and the water was shimmering with bright light. Jamie and I paddled over to the St. Francis Yacht Club. With the stability of the 12' Starboard, I was able to paddle fully clothed in blue jeans and a jacket!

We hung out by the charcoal bonfire till dark...then headed home after a perfect evening. Thanks to all who joined us for what I hope will become a regular outing!

Jane