A Different Kind of Board Meeting
Dropping in on the UMass Surf Club
By
Wait—UMass Amherst has a surf club?!
Yes, and I’m stoked to tell you about them. Established in 2014, the UMass Surf Club (UMSC) is open to everyone in the UMass community—regardless of whether you’re a grom (inexperienced but enthusiastic) or can really rip (surf well). No kooks or quimbies though. (I’ll let you look those up on your own). Its mission is to provide an inclusive surf culture and the best possible surf experiences to its members.
You’ve probably noticed a lack of surfable waves in Western Mass. But, no worries, UMSC has that covered. The group travels all along the coast, chasing waves from Westerly, Rhode Island, to Portland, Maine. When Mother Nature fails to provide good swells, they head to Surf’s Up—an indoor wave pool in Nashua, New Hampshire—to practice their shredding skills.
Check out these scenes from a recent practice session. Now that I’ve seen these pictures, they may just make a surfer out of this shubie yet.
Shawn O’Conner ’24 riding a short board
Sophia Greisen ’24 (right) sharing a wave
Shawn O’Conner ’24 practicing a surf move
Siddh Merchant ’26 and Shawn O’Conner ’24 riding a wave together
We’re on the lookout
Share your most intriguing nooks, niches, coordinates, or curiosities on campus or anywhere in the region. Email magazine@umass.edu and we’ll investigate!