Venice Surf School Instructors Share the Stoke with South L.A. Kids

Sixteen kids from South Los Angeles enjoyed a free surf lesson on Monday thanks to the instructors at Learn to Surf L.A.

After a brief lesson on the sand at the Navy Street lifeguard tower between Santa Monica and Venice, describing the proper pop-up technique, surf etiquette and safety, the high school kids carried their boards into the water and some started paddling into waves immediately.

Braden Dempster, one of the surf instructors, hopes to teach the kids more than just being surfers.

“We encourage kids to be good global citizens, and to respect the beach by cleaning up trash,” he said. 

Dempster has been an instructor for three years and also takes kids snowboarding in Big Bear on Sundays in the winter. 

The young surfers came from Alliance College Ready Academy High School #5, located at 4610 S. Main Street, and for many it was their first time surfing.

Learn to Surf L.A. runs surf camps in Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu and Manhattan Beach. To learn more about the camps, visit www.learntosurfla.com