It’s safe to say that less than 10 percent of students enrolled in universities in North America don’t have the luxury of a beach within walking distance like Pepperdine students. With a beach atmosphere embracing campus it should come as no surprise that “surf pros” are easy to find around campus.
Freshman Erik Heimstaedt is one of these many surfers at Pepperdine who is radically under recognized considering our close proximity to numerous Malibu beaches. The accomplishments and competitive undertakings of Heimstaedt and other surfers often go unnoticed by the majority of the Pepperdine student body except for those closely tied to the surfing community.
One such event that deserves such recognition is the Newport Echo Beach Pro that took place Sunday Sept. 26 in Newport Beach. Heimstaedt competed among approximately 60 other surfers and took first in the competition.
Raised in Newport Beach Heimstaedt has been surfing for about 13 years. It’s no surprise that Pepperdine has always been on the top of his list of universities he would like to attend considering it was his dad who started the Pepperdine’s Surf Club when he attended Pepperdine about 30 years ago.
The surf club has since evolved from a small group of passionate surfers to a club of about 30 students who compete in surfing competitions against schools up and down the coast. Some of the members like Heimstaedt compete individually in other competitions and all dedicate a portion of their time to surfing every week.
“I try and get out and surf every day,” Heimstaedt said.
The club is preparing for their next competition that is set to take place in San Diego on Oct. 15. They also have one scheduled for Nov. 5 in Huntington Beach.
