Surf Team Celebrates 55 Years of Memories at Black's Beach

Long after the tide has gone out and the sun has retired beneath the sea for the day, what members of the UC San Diego Surf Team remember most aren’t necessarily the breathtaking waves they rode or the national championships they won. No, years later — decades even — it’s the people they met and the families they forged along the way that leave the biggest wake.

Nowhere was that more evident than at the UC San Diego Surf Team’s 55th anniversary celebration under idyllic conditions at the legendary Black’s Beach on May 17 and 18, 2024. The event drew in more than 150 participants, including past members and coaches, alumni, and current students.

“We were talented and we were intellectuals and those relationships were, and continue to be, the best part of my experience at UC San Diego,” said Alex Bravo, applied mechanics and engineering science, ’79. “I’m still best friends with my former teammate, Bert Neilsen. It’s great to still be connected with the team and an event like this helps us all see the spirit lives on in the current student-athletes.” 

Having been waylaid in recent years by the COVID pandemic and other complications, everyone was stoked to be back on the beach. The reunion even included two socials in La Jolla hosted by the Wolfpack restaurant group, one of the team’s sponsors.

Like many breaking waves, the memories came flooding back. Take, for example, Isabella Fried, applied math and computer science ’85, who joined the Surf Team of 12 men and 2 women when she arrived. Fried had taught herself to surf before joining the club and still speaks of the empowerment that competing with the Surf Team provided her.

“Being on the UC San Diego Surf Team inspired me every day to outdo the guys,” Fried said. “Girls were not supposed to be good at those things back then. I could trust the men on the team and they made me feel safe. They encouraged me to better myself and that has had a lasting impact.”

The Surf Team at UC San Diego was formed in 1969 when the enrollment  — according to the UC San Diego Institutional Research — was 3,474 undergraduates and 1,148 graduate students. Fast forward to today, when enrollment is many times that, and UC San Diego is consistently listed as one of the top 10 schools to attend for people interested in surfing. That’s due in large part to the exclusive and easy access to the always-excellent Black’s Beach. Known as a reef break, Black’s Beach is particularly deep, resulting in both power and consistency — a key factor in the opportunity to practice regularly and even squeeze in a surf session in between classes. And, of course, there is the consistency in air and water temperatures of San Diego to create some of the best conditions for anyone who loves to hit the waves. Unsurprisingly, Black’s Beach was also the focus of a myriad of stories circulating at the celebration related to the famous “key” to the beach, something still cherished by the Surf Team and alumni.

“The UC San Diego Surf Team is a symbol of the university’s commitment to a healthy work-life balance,” said Coach Tyler Callaway, who has led the team since 2003. “Do what you love. Play hard. Strive for excellence.

“In addition to our current student-athletes, we have so many highly successful alumni who have stayed on as vital parts of our local community and others whose contributions extend nationally and internationally. All who continue to live this ethos.”

From its inception, the Surf Team has held a top ranking in competition, winning its first national title in 1970. Decades later, the program boasts seven national championships and is a powerhouse in the sport. The size of the team has grown, too, with 30 to 40 UC San Diego scholar surfers hitting the waves each year. The program has also added scholarships — a first for UC San Diego Sports Clubs and the entire National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) —  as a way to attract and support the next generation.

“The Surf Team is more than just a club,” says Makena Burke, a senior majoring in marine biology and the inaugural Surf Team scholarship recipient. “It’s a family of like-minded individuals who share an equal passion for surfing and education.”

The establishment of surf scholarships, coupled with being a premier university and access to Black’s Beach, UC San Diego is once again elevating itself to be the top school choice for surfers. The goal is to raise $55,000 in honor of the 55th anniversary and to continue the momentum towards the ultimate target of a $312,000-plus Scholarship Endowment to recruit exceptional scholar surfers to UC San Diego and bring home another national championship.

“This award empowers young surfers, including myself, to invest in their future through education. It demonstrates that surfing and education can complement each other, setting a new standard within the surf community,” Burke said. “I don’t know where I’d be without this team. I consider my teammates lifelong friends who’ve greatly enriched my experience at UCSD.”