I'm stoked to see all the support for the groms. It's really cool that so many are willing to put up money to send these kids half way around the globe for a surf contest. The money isn't nearly as important as the encouragement you provide in and out of the water. The kids look up to all of you, watch you surf, and read every word you post here.
Before everyone throws down their money, we may want to identify any young US kneelos that are willing and able to make the trip. I know most of these kids have academic, athletic, job, and family commitments outside of kneeboarding. Sam is starting his first term in college with a full load of very difficult course work. I know Shawn and most of other kids also have challenging academic schedules and other commitments. Also, the Thanksgiving holiday is a very important event for some families.
The logistics of travel, at least for the under aged kneelos may be difficult. Parents, understandably, may be unwilling to allow underage kids to travel abroad alone. Three months may not be enough time for parents to plan, schedule vacation time, get passports, and budget for travel costs. Some of us kneelo dads are still working on convincing the wives that the next family vacation should be New Zealand in 2009.
If there are no young US kneelos that can make this trip, perhaps we should be looking forward to the 2009 Worlds in New Zealand.
I don't want to shut down the enthusiastic support for our young kneelos. I think it's great. Keep up the stoke.
In the next couple of years these kids are going to start making surf trips on their own. Expect to see them show up in OZ and Hawaii. I'm sure that we'll have some of these kids at Phillips Island before long. That's when they're going to need your spare couch and a tour of the local breaks.
Joe
Idea: Fundraiser to send CA groms to Phillip Island!
Moderator: Moderator
If this type of opportunity to travel for acedemics, sports, etc... presents its self when my boys are in their mid teenage years I would do my best to make it happen. Nothing is better than lessons learned on the road.
I believe the donated money should be used to create a pool of cash to be spread equally between the grom representatives that are qualified to go. What qualifies one to go?? Santa Cruz World Title results would be a good place to start. But it is up to the kids and the parents of the kids themselves to decide if they want to go or not. None of the young men mentioned have yet to chime in... Are they interested?? It will be up to them to raise the eaxtra money for the trip.
Ask Chris and Jack about the fun they had when they went to Aus. as teenagers.
It's not all about surfing, it's about the total experience of the trip and the people you meet along the way. If your lucky you might get some good waves to boot.
I believe the donated money should be used to create a pool of cash to be spread equally between the grom representatives that are qualified to go. What qualifies one to go?? Santa Cruz World Title results would be a good place to start. But it is up to the kids and the parents of the kids themselves to decide if they want to go or not. None of the young men mentioned have yet to chime in... Are they interested?? It will be up to them to raise the eaxtra money for the trip.
Ask Chris and Jack about the fun they had when they went to Aus. as teenagers.
It's not all about surfing, it's about the total experience of the trip and the people you meet along the way. If your lucky you might get some good waves to boot.
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Jack Beresford
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grom fund
Joe and Rick,
Those are great points. First and foremost, this needs to be done in a way that ensures the result is a positive one.
In the next week, I plan on talking with several of the parents of those who might consider this opportunity to get feedback and advice. Plus I'll be talking with folks I know in amateur surfing orgs with experience doing this regularly. Tom Linn, father of several groms, already weighed in during a KSUSA conference call on this subject earlier this week. Each member of the executive committee - the ones who will ultimately be responsible for how this gets done - has kids (OK - we'll count Greg and Darcy's dogs as kids). All of us have been to Oz and several of us took part in similar trips as amateur surfers. So we get it. As I said earlier, parental support will be key.
I really think it might be possible to sent a grom or groms to PI this year. The point is not to send them over with the expectation of winning - but for the friendships, experience and memories. Nothing, however, will happen (this year or next) unless we can raise some $$$ to support the effort.
Not all of us are in a position to "mentor" these young people - but most of us can spare a few bucks to give them a shot at something really cool! Keep the comments, questions and mostly the donations coming!!!
Here is the link:
http://www.active.com/donate/ksusa_grom_fund
Jack
Those are great points. First and foremost, this needs to be done in a way that ensures the result is a positive one.
In the next week, I plan on talking with several of the parents of those who might consider this opportunity to get feedback and advice. Plus I'll be talking with folks I know in amateur surfing orgs with experience doing this regularly. Tom Linn, father of several groms, already weighed in during a KSUSA conference call on this subject earlier this week. Each member of the executive committee - the ones who will ultimately be responsible for how this gets done - has kids (OK - we'll count Greg and Darcy's dogs as kids). All of us have been to Oz and several of us took part in similar trips as amateur surfers. So we get it. As I said earlier, parental support will be key.
I really think it might be possible to sent a grom or groms to PI this year. The point is not to send them over with the expectation of winning - but for the friendships, experience and memories. Nothing, however, will happen (this year or next) unless we can raise some $$$ to support the effort.
Not all of us are in a position to "mentor" these young people - but most of us can spare a few bucks to give them a shot at something really cool! Keep the comments, questions and mostly the donations coming!!!
Here is the link:
http://www.active.com/donate/ksusa_grom_fund
Jack
Last edited by Jack Beresford on Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jack Beresford
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albert
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Re: grom fund
Well said Jack!Jack Beresford wrote:The point is not to send them over with the expectation of winning - but for the friendships, experience and memories.
Grom Fund:
With great ideas come complexity. Yes, we have a fundraising effort to assist in getting a grom(s) over to the Phillip Island Comp this year. This is the goal. The fact is we may not meet the goal and will therefore use the funds for other grom related expenses in the future.
There is a lot more to this than just raising $.
We are actively soliciting the groms and parents of the groms in order to collect ideas, concerns, schedules, etc. so we can address as many issues as possible.
Any grom or parent who wishes to send me a PM outlining these ideas and concerns would be greatly appreciated. We'll respond quickly. We would like to ask that you give us a chance to frame the details. We want this to a positive experience all the way around so please do not channel this into a "one-time" effort or "contest focused" event. This is a movement - not a silver bullet.
We have many parents in this community and will not move forward without a very clear and succintly communicated plan.
I applaud the efforts and enthusiasm behind this effort. This goes beyond KSUSA and encompasses the other venues where groms and kneelos are welcome in contests and events.
So, to any concerned parents or groms please contact me, Jack, Mark or Tom. We are working to collect the information and produce a long-term framework for grom participation in local, US and international events.
Cheers,
Don
With great ideas come complexity. Yes, we have a fundraising effort to assist in getting a grom(s) over to the Phillip Island Comp this year. This is the goal. The fact is we may not meet the goal and will therefore use the funds for other grom related expenses in the future.
There is a lot more to this than just raising $.
We are actively soliciting the groms and parents of the groms in order to collect ideas, concerns, schedules, etc. so we can address as many issues as possible.
Any grom or parent who wishes to send me a PM outlining these ideas and concerns would be greatly appreciated. We'll respond quickly. We would like to ask that you give us a chance to frame the details. We want this to a positive experience all the way around so please do not channel this into a "one-time" effort or "contest focused" event. This is a movement - not a silver bullet.
We have many parents in this community and will not move forward without a very clear and succintly communicated plan.
I applaud the efforts and enthusiasm behind this effort. This goes beyond KSUSA and encompasses the other venues where groms and kneelos are welcome in contests and events.
So, to any concerned parents or groms please contact me, Jack, Mark or Tom. We are working to collect the information and produce a long-term framework for grom participation in local, US and international events.
Cheers,
Don
Last edited by Don on Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:09 am, edited 2 times in total.
Don Harris
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DarcyM
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Nobody's forcing anyone to go ... ! This is just a fund raiser at this point, don't read anymore into it than that.
The person or persons who end up going (if this works) will have to want to go, be able to go (with parent or guardian probably), and be able to afford to go because it's likely that not ALL expenses will be covered. AND that person will have to meet the criteria that KSUSA sets to receive said funds, whatever that may be which has yet to be decided.
(My thoughts were to make it an academic challenge as well, something along the lines of an essay about why a kneeboarding grom wants to go. But then someone actually has to read the essays ... )
It's also possible that the funds will roll over if no worthy candidate steps forward this year - I think we all understand there will still be sacrifices to go. This could be an annual undertaking, if those of you out there want to make it so. It is above all a community effort.
But anyone who doesn't realize that this opportunity is something that only comes around once in a lifetime and is therefore worth a huge effort to make it happen ... hasn't lived long enough. Like a wise man once said, "don't look a gift horse in the mouth!"
of course, the groms probably have no idea what that means ...
The person or persons who end up going (if this works) will have to want to go, be able to go (with parent or guardian probably), and be able to afford to go because it's likely that not ALL expenses will be covered. AND that person will have to meet the criteria that KSUSA sets to receive said funds, whatever that may be which has yet to be decided.
(My thoughts were to make it an academic challenge as well, something along the lines of an essay about why a kneeboarding grom wants to go. But then someone actually has to read the essays ... )
It's also possible that the funds will roll over if no worthy candidate steps forward this year - I think we all understand there will still be sacrifices to go. This could be an annual undertaking, if those of you out there want to make it so. It is above all a community effort.
But anyone who doesn't realize that this opportunity is something that only comes around once in a lifetime and is therefore worth a huge effort to make it happen ... hasn't lived long enough. Like a wise man once said, "don't look a gift horse in the mouth!"
of course, the groms probably have no idea what that means ...
dm
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"Push the button, Max!"
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Steeno
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good onya Jimmy Brown...love ya work
PI is the comp to be at.....harder than the worlds...you have all the underground local kneelo rippers down there to contend with, as well as your names
this will open any young grommets mind.....
i wish we had these oportunities when we where groms....
PI is a gathering of the best kneelo's
you can thank the legend reverend lukey....he is da man
PI is the comp to be at.....harder than the worlds...you have all the underground local kneelo rippers down there to contend with, as well as your names
this will open any young grommets mind.....
i wish we had these oportunities when we where groms....
PI is a gathering of the best kneelo's
you can thank the legend reverend lukey....he is da man
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Jack Beresford
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response
Kudos to Bill L, Steen, Craig, Bob, John, Darcy and Wino for making online gifts to support this effort! Others have indicated they want to send Mark a check. $725 raised in just two days! The best thing about Kneeboarding are the awesome people who want to give back. Keep it up!
Here is the link:
http://www.active.com/donate/ksusa_grom_fund
Here is the link:
http://www.active.com/donate/ksusa_grom_fund
Last edited by Jack Beresford on Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Jack Beresford
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awesome job
THIS MORNING WE'RE AT $1,395 AND BUILDING MOMENTUM! You folks are unbelievable!
I also want to express our appreciation to all those in Oz who have stepped forward and offered accomodations, transportation and other help - truly amazing!
If you haven't donated yet, please consider doing so - we really need $2,000 for the grom's expenses. Based on the advice of parents and others it also looks like we may want to send a parent or chaperone - so it would be nice to subsidize their travel costs to some extent. Of course, if we raise more, we can make the opportunity available to more!
Here is the link:
http://www.active.com/donate/ksusa_grom_fund
(Note: you may also donate anonymously or mail a check to Mark)
I also want to express our appreciation to all those in Oz who have stepped forward and offered accomodations, transportation and other help - truly amazing!
If you haven't donated yet, please consider doing so - we really need $2,000 for the grom's expenses. Based on the advice of parents and others it also looks like we may want to send a parent or chaperone - so it would be nice to subsidize their travel costs to some extent. Of course, if we raise more, we can make the opportunity available to more!
Here is the link:
http://www.active.com/donate/ksusa_grom_fund
(Note: you may also donate anonymously or mail a check to Mark)
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Mike Fernandez
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I think Red hit on it. Something to consider. When I travelled with the NSSA, I had host families I stayed with. It was a great experience, way better than staying at a hotel with people I knew.
In North Carolina I stayed with a non surfing family, their gorgeous daughter took me to the beach every day to practice for the event
In Hawaii I was incredibly fortunate to stay with Rell Sunn. I surfed Makaha with her without getting pounded by a moke!
In South Africa I stayed with another SA kneeboarder. I had to go shopping with him, and all other of life's necessities. In 1980 that was a world experience to say the least.
He stayed with me when he came over.
My suggestion is to find a family with a young surfer/kneelo the same age, and hand the kid over to that family. Give the family money for expenses, let the kid live, eat, sleep, surf with the family. Leave the parents and chaperone at home. The Aussies know who the trustworthy people are.
In North Carolina I stayed with a non surfing family, their gorgeous daughter took me to the beach every day to practice for the event
In Hawaii I was incredibly fortunate to stay with Rell Sunn. I surfed Makaha with her without getting pounded by a moke!
In South Africa I stayed with another SA kneeboarder. I had to go shopping with him, and all other of life's necessities. In 1980 that was a world experience to say the least.He stayed with me when he came over.
My suggestion is to find a family with a young surfer/kneelo the same age, and hand the kid over to that family. Give the family money for expenses, let the kid live, eat, sleep, surf with the family. Leave the parents and chaperone at home. The Aussies know who the trustworthy people are.
I am a traveller of both time and space, a weaver in and out of dreams, I see worlds seldom seen.
www.michaelfernandezphoto.com
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http://www.youtube.com/user/kneelocoveproduction
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I agree with Mike. We are talking about sending "kids" who are in their mid to late teens. They do not need an escort for this type of trip, their Aussie hosts have already offered to provide all the help they'll need.
Take the bubble wrap off and let them experience life on their own, it will do them good.
One thing that bothers me about this whole effort is that I have yet to see any of the potential junior representatives chime in on any of this. If they were interested I think they would be on here trying to generate more support. I know that if this opportunity was out there for Chris, Jack, Greg or me when we were that age we would be scheming like fools to make it happen.
Maybe the money raised could be put to another use if no juniors step up to take this opportunity.
Take the bubble wrap off and let them experience life on their own, it will do them good.
One thing that bothers me about this whole effort is that I have yet to see any of the potential junior representatives chime in on any of this. If they were interested I think they would be on here trying to generate more support. I know that if this opportunity was out there for Chris, Jack, Greg or me when we were that age we would be scheming like fools to make it happen.
Maybe the money raised could be put to another use if no juniors step up to take this opportunity.