Last Day of Surf Camp

We lost Nicholas to a cold, and the only students left standing, literally, were Julia and McKenzie. Kenan was just too afraid of the "big waves" to try anything but his trusty bodyboard, and Isabel shyly stood up to cheers on one wave, and that was all she needed to be happy. It just takes one wave, after all. Karen and I cheered McKenzie and Julia into so many waves today. McKenzie was exhausted, but never gave up. She ate it on wave after wave so much that I thought she would surely give up. We finally figured out that she was too focused on just standing straight up, like the Statue of Liberty, rather than bending her knees. Once this was established, it became a lot easier. We all are learning from this experience. But, nothing was as entertaining, or as satisfying, as watching Julia. She kept up her boundless enthusiasm, never tiring, and ended up actually turning and riding the open face frontside, to the delight of those on the beach as well as her instructors. She said she was going to try it backside, and I said, "Oh, no, Julia. No one can go backside without many, many days of practice." Oh, that one worked. On the very next wave, she went backside just to spite me. We were all cracking up, and when I looked up on the beach, everyone was cheering and clapping for her. She deservedly won the bottle of 100% grape juice for most improved player. Tee hee. That's a wrap! We got our paychecks, and a promise to call for another group that is coming into town soon. Gulp. Hope it's not when the swells come in from that tropical system coming off Africa...