Despite rapid growth this year, Coastal Carolina University’s Surf Club continues to maintain a tight-knit community. With over 400 student signups at Organization Kickoff Day in August, the club currently has about 250 members making up their family.
Since the club’s formation in 2015, the club has continued to chase waves up and down the East Coast while building a loving community for all types of surfers across campus.
The returning members of Surf Club said maintaining a close community is crucial. While they are excited by the continued interest and growth of the club, they recognize extra effort is needed this year to build and maintain relationships.
President Reese Rasmussen, a junior psychology major, said the club ensures their community stays close by modeling behavior, especially to new members.
“I think we set a good example with the way the returning members treat each other. We treat each other like siblings and have very close friendships. We try to make everyone feel loved, welcomed, and seen,” Rasmussen said. “We’re all very close and I feel like it’s not even the sport that brings us together, it’s the ocean and creation.”
The club said creating a supportive and family-like environment is important, as many new members are learning how to surf for the first time. Each member has a different approach toward connecting with one another.
Vice President Lleyton Foster, a junior business management major, embraces the friendships the club has encouraged.
“Sometimes I just grab a random group of people and just take them on an adventure,” Foster said. “I love just being able to grab someone and get them to abandon their plans for the rest of the day to go do whatever with us … It’s a good way to meet all the new people and get close with them.”
Junior public health major Rilyn Kittrell maintains the role as “surf mom” of the club, who has the responsibility to know and care for everyone.
“I’m so excited to get to know everyone and be able to relate to everyone on some type of level. Everybody’s got their own vibe that they contribute to the club, but everyone is so chill and grateful to just be here,” Kittrell said, “I feel like you don’t get that a lot with college students; we’re all so stressed out. But when you’re with Surf Club or on a trip, everyone is able to stand still and completely be in the moment with each other.”
Throughout the surfing season, returning members are looking forward to building bonds that make events such as trips, surf competitions and surf prom even better.
