Random Photos/Short Update
It’s been a busy few weeks for us here. English, swimming, and surfing have all been great, and even though the days are getting colder the energy within the VSP remains high. I wanted to take a moment to post some photos from our various activities for you all to enjoy. The progress, enthusiasm, and commitment of our students is truly amazing and we hope you will consider getting involved – be it here in Chile or back in the United States at one of our events throughout the summer. Stay tuned, as I will continue to post more on [...]
DuocUC/VSP Partnership
The Valpo Surf Project is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Public Relations department of DuocUC, a division of Pontificada Universidad Católica de Chile, one of the nation’s foremost universities. Three of the VSP directors spoke at the welcoming ceremony for the incoming class of Public Relations students, to explain the organization’s mission and objectives, and encourage the students to consider the role of social responsibility and community outreach as a foundation of business practice. Following the welcoming ceremony, members of the DuocUC Public Relations department organized a social gathering to meet the VSP participants and generously offered [...]
Second Surf Session
This past Sunday we returned to the beach with 12 of our kids. Thankfully the waves were a hair smaller than last time and everyone was able to relax a bit more (the buoys were still reading around 12 ft. @ 16 secs). The sun was out and we spent the whole day outside. Kids rotated through cleaning the beach, playing soccer, and surfing. Almost everyone popped to their feet and it was great seeing the kids so stoked. The kids were lined up waiting in the shore pound to get back on a board. Jon, Henry, Andres, and I [...]
First Surf Session
So this past Saturday we made our way out to one of our favorite breaks best suited for learning with six kids in tow. We picked up Vicky, Catalina, Jocelyn, Jesus, Gustavo and Claudio around 10 am, and we were at the beach by 11:30. After a beach clean, a quick session on a how to care for the gear, and some dry land surf instruction, we started getting ready to jump in the water. All it took was one look at the water and we knew we had to make some adjustments to our game plan. The waves were [...]
Alexandria Alberto To Run Santiago Half Marathon For VSP
The Valpo Surf Project’s official runner, Alexandria Alberto, is taking to the streets of Santiago to run a half marathon for the VSP. Her goal: to raise $5,000 to go towards the purchase of a much needed mini-bus to transport the VSP students to and from swimming classes, community service projects, and surf lessons. Alexandria is a native of Concord, Massachusetts and a junior at Bates College She is currently studying abroad in Valparaíso, Chile. While cross training here in Chile she has decided to run the Santiago Half Marathon in the name of the Valpo Surf Project. She has [...]
Limpieza De La Playa (Beach Clean)
This past weekend the VSP teamed up with chilesurf.cl, Escuela de Surf Chile Extremo, and Roxy to clean up La Boca Beach in Con Con. We managed to collect 160 bags of garbage left over from the tsunami after the February 27th earthquake and loads of trash left by visitors to the beach. Our kids were excellent ambassadors of the Valpo Surf Project. We’re very proud of the work they’re doing. Activities like these are an important element to the environmental and community service aspects of our program. We look forward to teaming up with other local organizations and businesses [...]
Thank You Liquid Dreams Surf Shop!!!
The support and passing of resources from family, friends, and businesses in the United States has been crucial to the success of the Valpo Surf Project. Liquid Dreams Surf Shop in Ogunquit and York Beach, Maine has played a pivotal role in the pilot program of the VSP. My history with LDS owner, Mark Anastas, goes back to when I first started surfing in high school. Mark sold me my first surfboard and wetsuit. Almost every board and wetsuit I’ve owned since then have come from LDS. I’ve always relied on Mark’s expertise with boards and wetsuits and his advice [...]