On May 1, celebrate International Bodysurfing Day
April 29, 2021 |
Surfing
On May 1, it s time to celebrate International Bodysurfing Day (IBSD).
After all, the art of riding waves without a buoyant watercraft dates as far back as 2,000 B.C. and predates board riding.
The initiative was soft-launched in 2020 by John P. Murphy, an American writer and teacher who lives in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
Murphy had already started Los Cabrones, an open bodysurf club that promotes the sport via weekly get-togethers and free water safety clinics.
One day, he decided to create a local competition with a sustainable model of beach community growth that could expand the tourist season and fill in the calendar year.
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David Matuszak has been surfing the waters of San Diego County for more than 40 years. One of his favorite spots is San Onofre State Beach on the northern tip of Camp Pendleton.
About eight years ago, he got the idea to write about the memories of his friend Wally Duesler, a pioneer surfer who first surfed San Onofre in 1937. He envisioned a 50- to 100-page booklet. But before he even began his research, Duesler told his surfing buddies about the idea and they wanted to share their memories, too.
“From there the project became a runaway train. What I thought would be a six-month project became an eight-year odyssey and labor of love,” Matuszak said.