Melissa Rossiter: Naomi's First Surf Lesson 8-18-12

We met our instructor at "Stewarts Board Shop" on Camino Real Blvd in San Clemente, Ca. From there we followed Mike, the surf instructor, to T street where we parked and unloaded everyone out of the car. Mike had four boards strapped to the top of his little sedan, and a trunk with wet suits.

A very excited and nervous Naomi, pre-lesson.

The wet suit and board, just her size.

We crossed over the railroad tracks and headed south along the beach to where the surfers were allowed to surf.

The lesson!

She actually did try to pick up and carry her own long board. Mike ended up carrying it for her.

This was a family affair. We all came to watch, take pictures and cheer Naomi on. Well, ok, Heidi and Audrey came to play in the sand, but we were all there.

Audrey hated the loud sounds of the metrolinks horn as it got closer and sounded every time it got close to a pedestrian crossing. Audrey would go running toward Ryan or I to cover her ears and bury her head on us. Once, while I was out taking pictures and Ryan was standing at the waters edge next to me chatting about how Naomi leans forward too much and falls off the board, the metrolink came rolling by fast. Neither of us was close, so Heidi ran to Audrey and held her tight till the train passed. It was the sweetest moment. I've been trying to teach Heidi to be more caring and nice to Audrey so Audrey will like her more, or want to actually play with her. So this was a success in my eyes. Heidi has tried to talk softer and not be so forceful. I think it's working. Well at least this day...

Train again. This time Ryan was close enough.

Audrey had been knocked over by a few small waves a few days ago, so any time the water gets close, she freaks. This was one of those times. Ryan set her in the wet sand just before a wave came upon her.

As you can see, it was the tail end of a wave and barely came around her. Yet she was still frightened.

My Surfer Girl, balancing on one knee, a;most pushing up to stand.

All done. Her two hours were up, even though she hadn't stood up all the way. She was pooped out I'm sure. She had run right back out after every time she either wiped out of successfully rode a wave in.

"Water, Water, I need water!"

Peeling off the wet suit was like peeling off wet skin. She giggled a little embarrassed that she didn't quite know how to get it off with out help.

Naomi was so thrilled with her lesson that she begged and talked about buying her own surf board right away. She wanted to go find a board for her right now. I'm sure the best thing to do would have been to rent a board so she could get back out later that day. But after having some Chronic Taco for lunch, then going to Costco to see the boards there, we decided Naomi can wait for Christmas for a surf board.

So when we did go back to the water, we just took two boogie boards for Ryan and Naomi to go out together. But once Naomi coaxed Heidi to try the boogie board, Heidi was hooked. I wish you could hear her giggle or I should say loud laugh. It made up for all the whining she did earlier while we walked to and from the beach.

This was the best moment of all. Naomi took Heidi's hand and walked out to catch a wave with her.

Heidi had been toppled over a few times, and when she had had enough, she came running to Ryan crying about her nose burning from water getting in it.