Desert Mirage HS 2020

Shaka's in 3...2..1. In late November of 2018, the East Valley Board Riders Surf Club began with six active members. But, now cutting to 2019-2020 the surf club numbers have drastically changed from its original low count of six. The Club adviser Kristen Gonda mentioned that the club had a whopping “forty active members and more pending” on the waiting list. This became a reality for the club, not a fantasy, it became true for them once they had hit their major turning point. In 2019 the club began to take off when they started to get involved with the local government about wave pools in the valley. To get the attention of council members seven seniors from the club wrote

speeches about what surfing meant to them “ surfing led me to find some of the greatest people that I consider to be family” - Daisy Mejia (12)

From all around the club caught the attention and became united with one another with the support of teachers, staff, locals and professionals surf-boarders. The club had one surfboard and 1 wetsuit when they began this year, but because of the involvement the students made sure their voices were heard, they now have 40 wetsuits and 40 surfboards. “I am very proud of my surf students, they had an active role in creating something for the Coachella Valley“ - Gonda. If you are ever in the area of Palm Springs make sure to check out the wave pool your fellow students' voices have accomplished to create. Story by: Alex Angel From left to right: Agniezka Gutierez(10), Edgar Mora(12), Biran Aguilar(12), Nancy Hernandez(12).

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