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As spring arrives California Baptist University students can look forward to: spring break, Easter, and longer, warmer days. With extra free time, it is no surprise to find CBU students out enjoying beach sports, such as surfing.

Curtis Craig, CBU senior, is one student who will be found along the California coastline. Craig, who has been surfing for over seven years can be found regularly along the beaches in southern Orange County, when he is not busy with school or work.

Serious surfers know the peak times of when the waves are at their best. "The water is best during the winter, but it's cold." Craig said. There are also peak times to get the better waves, usually earlier in the mornings.

"Many CBU students would probably enjoy surfing. It is a board sport, so the concept of balancing on a surfboard is similar to skateboarding or snowboarding, but surfing is very different." The type of surfboard affects how a surfer would experience each wave. Long boards are slower and tend to "cruise" more compared to short boards which are faster, more agile and make it possible to perform more complicated maneuvers. Craig prefers short boards, but when the waves are right, he would use a long board.

Surfing has been around for hundreds of years. It has been a part of Polynesian culture for an unknown amount of time, but it was first observed by Europeans in the 1760's. For some cultures, particularly Hawaiians, surfing was considered a religious act that was reserved for nobles and royalty. Europeans and eventually Americans who had observed surfers would bring this sport back home.

Surfing had a brief moment of what can be considered major popularity during the 1950-60's during which surfing became a part of pop culture. Movies such as "The Endless Summer," and songs, like "Surfin' USA," helped to bring the sport into common culture. The "beach party" culture of that era ended as a new counter culture replaced it.

Recently, surfing is finding a resurgence as it is finding popularity in a brand new generation. There is a different surfing culture, but it is the same sport passed on to a new breed of surfers. Craig credits his father for teaching him this sport that he is now passionate about. Craig enjoys sharing his passion for surfing with a few other students here at CBU. "Surfing is really cool, it's a great way to relax and have fun with friends."