Category Archives: Surf Camp News

WB Surf Camp Instructor of the Week for 1/16/12 – Marissa Walch

  By Jason | January 18, 2012 - 4:10 pm | Employment, Surf Camp News
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We met Marissa and her ever present smile while she was working for our awesome local Surfrider Foundation chapter a few years ago while she was attending UNCW. Her proactive positivity, desire to motivate and educate people of all ages about local and global environmental issues, and love of surfing made her a perfect match with WB Surf Camp. We’ve loved having her and amazing attitude around our office, within our camps, and amongst our campers over the past couple of years. She’s done it all from Teen Overnight, to Women’s Surf & Yoga, to Guppy Camp. She’s that good! We miss her dearly now that she’s moved on, but we know she’s doing amazing work elsewhere. It doesn’t matter where she is or what she’s doing, she’s continuing to make a positive impact in others’ lives. Check her out and see for yourself…

1. What drew you to a position at WB Surf Camp? A good number of my friends who I went to school with at UNCW were having top notch summers one after the other working for Surf Camp. The opportunity to work with teenagers, educate people about the environment, and SURF 100% drew me to the position. I realized, what better way to spend the summer than in the sun and water with awesome people?!

2. Who is your favorite surfer and why? Rob Machado and Clay Marzo – Clay has a body that moes like Gumby in the water and Rob…just because it’s Rob.

3. When did you start surfing and where? Senior year in high school.  I grew up on Lake Norman, so I had a love for the water and realized that’s where my body felt comfortable and at peace (same yoga feeling) and started in Oak Island, NC and continued when I went to school at UNCW in WB.

4. What is your favorite surf break? San O in California…enough said!

5. What inspired you to start surfing? I craved doing new thing, especially water sports.  I was a big wakeboarder and loved what I could do on a board, so I thought the transition into surfing would be swell once I moved to Wilmington. Taking multiple nose dives still hasn’t driven me away…you get hooked!

6. Where was your most memorable session? Swamis in Encinatas, CA – great evening surf ending a long weekend with friends who came into town.  Long paddle out and long gentle waves bringing us back in. Lots of fun playing on the waves all evening while watching the sun set.

7. What is the worst wipeout you’ve ever had? 8 stitches in my left ear…my friend’s board hit the back of my head and then fin sliced my ear open.  I asked my friend if I was bleeding and her eyes started to bulge…that was the sign to paddle in.  I got taken right to the hospital, numbing shots and then a pressure wrap around my head for 4 days…perfect.

8. What are some of your interests outside of surfing? teaching groupX, yoga, scrap booking, Surfrider Foundation, taking photos, eating good food and being outside in the sun.

9. What is your favorite movie? The Fighter

10. What is your favorite music? Trevor Hall…add to your iTunes NOWWWWWW

11. What is your favorite food? I love food (minus red meat)

12. Where do you see yourself in five years? Well, I just moved to Baltimore, MD, but I should be gone in 5 years from here to another city on the coast (closer to the water of course) and hopefully owning/operating my own yoga/groupX/PT studio/gym and working with the local Surfrider chapter.

13. In your eyes, the three things you value most are: honestly, love and health…keeping smiling!

WB Teen Overnight Upgrades to KOA!

  By Jason | January 18, 2012 - 11:31 am | Surf Camp News
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Our goal each offseason is to find ways to make our surf camps better, and this year we think we’ve outdone ourselves. Based on years of feedback from our campers, we decided to give our flagship program an overhaul. Not only have we upgraded our facilities, but this change has allowed us to add a whole extra day of surfing for FREE!

This summer we’ll move to Wilmington’s premier KOA Kampground. This centrally located lodging will allow us easier access to our various surf breaks. In addition to providing the traditional camp accommodations, we’ll also have access to a swimming pool and our own game pavilion.

Each day we’ll road trip to the beach. Stepping out onto the sand before the crowds arrive allows us to see the ocean during its most picturesque time. And coincidentally, this is also when the best conditions typically are. After a morning of soaking up the surf, we’ll either spend the afternoon working on advanced skills or learning the importance of the coastal environment. After a day spent in the saltwater it will be nice to cool off in the swimming pool back at the KOA. From there it’s on to dinner at a local restaurant and then we’ll come back to our campside fire pits, nestled beneath a grove of long-leaf pines. What better way to end an epic surf session than s’mores with your new friends.

Our founder is no stranger to surf odysseys, and wanted to provide a more authentic camp experience this year. “I am so excited about our accommodations upgrade,” say Rick. “This location provides such an awesome vibe for our campers and many more opportunities for group fun! It is the coolest change we have made in over a decade, and I am so stoked for this summer!”

This location upgrade will give teens a cooler, more adventurous experience and facilitate better group bonding that will last the whole week. The addition of a whole extra day will allow your skills to develop more, and build stronger friendships. Evening campfires, breakfast on our front porch swings, a pool, and group activities under our own private pavilion…it’s going to be EPIC and we hope to see you there! Click here for more info!

Holiday Helpers – Better to give, than to receive

  By Emily | January 9, 2012 - 12:36 pm | Surf Camp News
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Holiday Helper family presents

The look of awe and excitement that spreads across a child’s face as they discover bright packages under a glimmering tree on Christmas morning is truly unforgettable. This moment of pure joy is one of my favorite things about Christmas, and is a gift in and of itself.

Holiday Helper family

 I was honored to do the Christmas shopping for two very special girls this holiday season. You may recall that we adopted the Roseman Family through the Cape Fear Community College Holiday Helpers program last month. The Roseman girls were the focus of WB Surf Camp’s fundraising efforts and together our team raised over $400 for their family.

A very wise Eleanor Roosevelt once stated that “Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. “ I took this credo to heart as I shopped for the girls. Armed with the knowledge of their favorite colors and hobbies, I set out to find gifts that would surprise and delight them. As I fought my way through the crowds, searched the shelves, and wielded my shopping cart through narrow spaces, I kept their faces in my mind, imagining that moment when they would peek around the corner to see what Santa brought. I truly enjoyed every moment shopping for them and hope that they had a wonderful Christmas.

We look forward to giving back in new ways in this New Year and hope that you will spread the love and joy in your community as well!

- Emily