> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Hitting the waves - URL: https://www.smdp.com/hitting-the-waves/ - Published: 2007-10-26T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T03:39:24.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Sports, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Lincoln Surf Team gives kids a reason to wake up at dawn* SANTA MONICA BEACH A group of adolescents are making waves in the world of middle school organized sports. On Wednesday morning, the Pacific Ocean off Bay Street was once again teeming with the early-bird surfers, all hoping to catch the perfect wave and taking advantage of an unseasonably warm October day. But among the professionals, instructors and recreational surfers was a group of some 15-plus pre-teenaged surfers, paddling up the coast, some standing on their boards and trying to hang-10. The kids all hail from Lincoln Middle School and are part of a newly-formed competitive group, the Lincoln Surf Team. Unaffiliated with Lincoln Middle School, the surf team has evolved fast in a short period of time. The team was formed in September, holding practices twice a week starting in early October and competing for the first time against other middle school students in Carpinteria last weekend. “I’ve always liked surfing more than any other sport,” said Adam Davison, an eighth grader whose mother, Lisa helped form the team.“I get to surf with a bunch of other kids.” The team excelled in the competition on Oct. 20, many of its members placing high in the boys and girls longboard and shortboard categories. There are 16 boys and 8 girls currently on the team. Each student had to pass an ocean water safety test to be eligible to join, but didn’t necessarily have to be proficient surfers. The team is coached by former professional surfer Christian Andersen and assistant coach Ona Gauthier, who together have more than 49 years of surfing experience. Andersen learned how to surf at the age of 6 in Waikiki and perfected his skill while growing up in Topanga Beach. He has lived in Santa Monica since 1978. He had a few brief stints in professional surfing and once placed in the top 16 with the Professional Longboard Association. He’s been teaching surfing both one-on-one and in a summer camp for the past 10 years. Andersen was enlisted by Davison to run the middle school team after the two met during a surf competition in Malibu a few months ago where the coach gave the younger Davison, who competed, some pointers. The kids say they enjoy being on a surf team more than some of the conventional sporting teams, like basketball and football, finding surfing to be more challenging and even more spiritual. “You don’t rely on anyone else,” said Kai Watanabe, an eighth grader who placed third in the boys longboard competition. “Surfing is just you, you can’t blame anyone else (for mistakes made).” Some parents say the surf team has helped their children with their self-confidence and has given them a sense of discipline, finding a reason to get up early in the morning. The team practices on Wednesday and Saturday mornings — the former because of a late start at Lincoln Middle School. “It’s an entry-level organization that nurtures the competitive aspect of surfing,” Lisa Davison said. Susanne Conrad recently came across a goal sheet that her daughter Hunter, who has been surfing for four years, wrote about a year ago. “I will surf two times a week,” the note read. For Hunter, the surf team has helped improve her skill level as well as her confidence in the sport, Conrad said. Hunter placed fourth in the girls short-board competition last weekend. “She loves being able to go first thing in the morning to the ocean and not have to be with the parents and be with her peers who are outstanding athletes,” Conrad said. Gauthier, who has been surfing for nine years and also teaches personal lessons, believes that the surfing team teaches self-discipline. Many of the kids are in the water practicing before the sun even rises, she said. “The kids are surfing when we don’t meet,” she said. “These kids actually want to improve and are... interested in finding new ways of how to hone in on different techniques.” The surf team is set to host a home meet on Nov. 17 at Santa Monica Beach and in preparation, will hold a beach clean-up the weekend before. It’s one of the things that Andersen is trying to instill in his students — taking care of mother nature. “I want them to look at the trash on the beach that is produced by us and want us to make a concerted effort and set times to go out to do a beach clean up,” Andersen said. “I want to help (the students) understand what is going on from the environmental aspect.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/102607-01_01.jpg) of Lincoln Surf Team A CURL ABOVE: A member of the Lincoln Surf Team catches a wave during lthe longboard session of last weekend's competition in Carpinteria. (Photo: Photo courtesy) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/102607-01_02.jpg) of Lincoln Surf Team A CURL ABOVE: A member of the Lincoln Surf Team catches a wave during lthe longboard session of last weekend's competition in Carpinteria. (Photo: Photo courtesy) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/102607-01_05.jpg) of Lincoln Surf Team EARLY RISER: The Lincoln Surf Team made a strong showing at a recent competition. (Photo: Photo courtesy) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 26, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/102607.pdf?ref=smdp.com)