The crashing of tall waves, the smell of sea salt, the sight of longboards and wetsuits lining up along Pacific Coast Highway, all before sunrise.
Welcome to Pepperdine’s surf convocation.
Surf convocation unifies Pepperdine’s Christian mission and its surf culture, helping student surfers get convo credit while they catch some waves. The convo combines surfing and worship every Wednesday at 7 a.m. at Zuma beach for about 50 to 60 students. Faculty and student leaders lead prayers, share messages and engage in discussion before surfing together.
“Surf convocation is unique by it providing a place to both surf and worship,” said Akela Newman, a junior journalism major and surf convocation leader. “I am very faith focused, which is one of the reasons I chose to come to Pepperdine. The greatest appeal of surf convo is that it is an event that combines an activity I love along with God, friendship and spirituality.”
Pepperdine provides many opportunities for student surfers on top of surf convocation, including the surf team and surfboard rentals. The surf team requires knowledge of knowing how to surf and a $50 registration fee but comes with the opportunities of sponsorships, such as Duke Malibu, Volcom and Becker. The Recreation Department provides surfboard rentals for anywhere between one to 10 days at a time for $12 to $18.
Surf convocation is free to attend and welcomes everyone. Those who know how to surf, those who want to learn and those who just want to worship at the beach are all invited to surf convo, said Raymond McLagon, a sophomore business major and surf convocation student leader.
“There is definitely a strong demand for surf convo,” said Mac Sommers, a sophomore business major and surf convocation participant. “There are such great numbers of surfers at our school and many of them are eager for more than just hitting the waves. They are looking for quality time in worship and building relationships with other students. Surf convo provides all of that.”
Although 7 a.m. is an early call time, many students said they find the early morning time appealing.
“(Surf convocation) is early but there is something about being out there on the beach at that hour,” Newman said. “It is so special and peaceful and puts you in the mood mentally and physically to engage in worship and prayer. Not to mention it is prime time for great surf.”
Surf convocation includes coming together for breakfast and then hearing and discussing a message. The two faculty leaders, Rob Shearer, an assistant professor of Decision Science, and Grant Waggoner, an admissions counselor, alternate giving the message. The messages focus on relating to the lives of students and the presence of God within those lives. For example, past messages have included discussing how to deal with stress as finals or midterms approach, how to meet new people as a new school year starts, and how to manage being homesick. Each message focuses on how God can help in real-life ways. Convos also include worship time and, of course, surfing, Newman said.
“As you can probably see surf convocation is about more than just surfing,” Waggoner said. “Rob and I really try to focus our weekly messages on what can really help our members. We want to know what is going on in their lives and deliver a message that they will be able to relate to and apply to themselves.”
After discussing the message of the week, surf convocation participants engage in worship.
“Worship is a time where we pray and come together through music,” Newman said. “Each week one person chooses the songs and plays guitar and we all sing together and it just a very intimate moment with God and friends.”
Although surfing could be seen as a distraction from academics, many students said they believe it is beneficial.
“When I came to Pepperdine I was actually almost resigning myself to not surf,” Newman said. “I was like ‘oh school is going to be a big part of my life and I should really focus on that and surfing is going to be a distraction.’ But my dad was like, ‘no you’re going to be in Malibu, you have to be surfing all the time because the surf is great there.’ So he bought me a surfboard and I have been doing surf convo and going with friends and surfing all the time. It has been actually really good for my education. It has been a really good de-stressor and a way to recharge.”
Pepperdine administrators said they think there is a large surf community at the university and surf convo serves that community’s needs.
“Surf convocation is unique because it is one of our largest club convocation groups,” said Sarah Jaggard, director of Convocation. “Most club convocation groups cap participation at approximately 20 students. However, with such a high demand and strong culture, combined with the limitless space of the beach, we allow everyone interested in surf convocation to participate.”
Shearer said the strong surf culture at Pepperdine keeps growing surf convo.
“Surf convo has seen an increase in membership from last semester to this semester with attendance reaching about 50-60 students on a weekly basis,” Shearer said. “Surf team membership and surfboard rentals have also seen growth in activity. I feel that this is in part due to the community of Pepperdine surfers coming together. Rather than taking part in surfing on their own they are joining friends and joining the opportunities Pepperdine is providing.”
The Inertia, a surf magazine, ranked Pepperdine No. 6 among America’s 10 Best Surfing Universities in 2013 due in part to its close proximity to the ocean, clean environment and great surf.
“I definitely think Pepperdine has a very high emphasis on surfing,” Newman said. “Malibu is known to be a great surf spot and students that come here realize that immediately.”
It is common to find beach city universities with strong surf cultures. University of California Santa Barbara, University of California San Diego, San Diego State University and University of California Santa Cruz have strong surf cultures with surf clubs, competitive teams and academic majors and/or minors in surf science and technology and surf tourism. Pepperdine offers a minor in surf science and technology in its undergraduate business program.
“The uniqueness of Pepperdine is the surf culture atmosphere,” Newman said. “There may be other beach schools, but there is no school like Pepperdine. I wouldn’t want to be a surfer anywhere else.”
Michelle Mockler completed this story in Dr. Christina Littlefield’s spring 2014 Jour 241 class.
