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. [...]
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 pretty [...]
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 dedicated [...]
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 to [...]
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 [...]
Clases de Natacion – Swim Lessons
We’ve started taking the kids to swimming lessons at the Escuela Naval (Naval Academy) here in Valparaiso. It has been incredibly beneficial for us to get the kids in the water. The facilities are incredible and our two swim instructors are as professional as the get. These classes are a crucial component to our program. Although many of our students are excellent swimmers ready to hit the surf, some have never had the opportunity to get in a swimming pool and are rapidly progressing with each class. I have to admit Jon and I felt like nervous parents on the [...]
Valpo Surf Project Midseason Letter
Dear Friends, Family, Followers, Supporters and Surfers,
First let me say that we and our students and our students’ families are all alive and well following what was the fifth biggest earthquake in recorded history. The VSP house came out of the quake without electricity, but aside from that, intact and in good shape. We showed up to teach an English class a few days after the quake, and to our delight, our students were already at their desks, notebooks and pencils in hand, with giant smiles on their faces. We already knew they were all safe thanks to communications we [...]
Class Photos
Here are some photos from class over the past few weeks for you all to enjoy.
-WT
Noticias del VSP
Valpo Surf Project quiere agradecer a todas las personas que se han mostrado preocupadas por las recientes noticias sucedidas en el centro-sur de Chile, lamentamos profundamente los daños y las perdidas humanas que esta tragedia nos ha dejado y compartimos el dolor de aquellos que han perdido a sus seres queridos o sus bienes materiales. Como organización estamos trabajando para continuar la programación señalada de las clases de ingles, las cuales se realizarán de manera normal y de acuerdo al calendario establecido. Las clases de surf se suspenderán indefinidamente hasta que las condiciones marítimas nos den la seguridad necesaria para realizar tales [...]
Valpo Quake Photos
So we’re about half way through Day 4 with no power and spotty water. Nobody seems to have the slightest idea of when the power will come back on, although it seems like the majority of the city is glowing at night. The tricky thing is the street lights are on all over town, but many of the houses remain dark. The word on the street is the water is going to be cut within the next day or so for anywhere from one to three or four days. Prepared and patient are definitely key words when [...]