![]() We had big bands play who were nobody then and became somebody now.”Įvery year, Nelson gets together with other UF Surf alumni at Marineland beach for the Alumni Challenge. “Back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, we had some pretty big parties,” Nelson said. Nelson was in the club from 1988 to 1992 and went to nationals in Huntington Beach, California, in 1989. Mark Nelson, a 54-year-old former UF Surf Club member, was the social club chairman in the ’90s. He described it as a hotbed for Gainesville surfers, skaters and music lovers. “The Dojo was the premiere surf house,” Kennedy said. In its prime, the Dojo house was registered as a city venue, where it could host music shows, Kennedy said. Most UF students know Surf Club from its former house, the “Dojo,” which it left in 2020. Unofficially, Redbull, Four Rivers Smokehouse and the Surf Station help the team out occasionally with donations. Officially, the club is sponsored by Tiger Fire Hot Sauce, Free Ride Skate Shop and Atlantic Yacht Management. On its half pipe, Surf Club has some of its official and unofficial sponsors displayed. “Practicing on this translates really well to surfing.” “We always joke that it’s 3- to 4-foot offshore all the time,” Kennedy said. ![]() The iconic half pipe was built by “Skater” Robb Bjorklund, a former professional skater and ramp builder in Gainesville. When Surf Club can’t travel to nearby beaches, the team uses a backyard skateboarding half pipe to practice for upcoming competitions. “We’ve been able to make it happen and go to almost every contest,” Kennedy said. He ran unopposed for president, and he attributes this season’s success to better organization and planning. UF Surf President Micaiah Kennedy, a 22-year-old UF computer science senior, joined the club his freshman year. And for the first time in nearly a decade, the team took first place overall in a December NSSA competition. Alaina Heater, a 19-year-old UF marketing sophomore, placed sixth in women’s shortboard and Braidyn Cunninham, a 22-year-old UF health education and behavior senior, placed third in women’s shortboard.įor the first time in four years, the surf club qualified for nationals in Dana Point, California. Gann placed second in men’s longboard and Campbell placed third in men’s shortboard. ![]() UF Surf competed with nine members of the team who made up team A. UF Surf competed against University of North Florida, Florida Atlantic University, Flagler College and University of Central Florida in the National Scholastic Surfing Association March 5 competition at the New Smyrna Beach inlet. With about 200 members, the club lies somewhere between a competitive UF Rec Sports club team and a social club known for throwing legendary parties. Surfing in a landlocked city comes with challenges, but UF Surf has taken on this obstacle for nearly 45 years. Team captain Paul Campbell, a 21-year-old UF mechanical engineering senior, was proud of how the team competed March 5, despite the tough conditions, he said.
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