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| Not Your Average Club: PUC Students
form memories by air, land and sea
By Holly Watkins
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 We
helped them strap on their leashes and they were off, paddling for
their lives into the head-high, white water. Despite getting flipped,
tossed and pounded back to shore, the group kept pushing forward
and finally punched through the gnarly shore break. Thus began the
adventures of the new Pacific Union College Surf Club as described
by their club president, Joby Oft.
Of the 30 student clubs represented at PUC, three stand truly apart:
the Surf Club, the Outdoors Club and the Angwin Flyers. The newest
of these is the Surf Club, which welcomes beginners, teaching them
to surf within a friendly and supportive atmosphere. The Surf Club
also enjoys activities such as evening gatherings on the beach,
a week-long camping and surfing trip during spring break, and a
trash clean-up on one of the county beaches. Jermain Joseph, a beginner
surfer, sees the club as an opportunity to "experience nature
in the ocean, bond with new friends and get closer to God."
The Outdoors Club thrives on land, including rock climbing, skiing
and snowboarding. They have already been challenged on five climbing
expeditions this year. Each event is like a small journey where
members experience unknown and challenging feats simply for the
love of it. "It's all about stepping out into the unknown,
pushing yourself to the limit and bonding with your fellow climbers
and skiers," says Ryan Tetz, president of the Outdoors Club.
This bond is unique since each member must trust his or her life
on the abilities of another person.
The Angwin Flyers "absolutely love to fly and want everyone
else to just catch the bug," says Jordan Wareham, president
of the Angwin Flyers. Group activities include "flyouts,"
where the members visit other fascinating airports and on-field
restaurants. The club hosts FAA seminars on safety and facilitates
air expos where they participate in games, such as flour bombing
and target landing, to improve their skills. They also distribute
a monthly flier, and host weekly Bible study and exercise groups.
Isaac Sumner, a member of the Flyers, says that the focus of the
club is to further the airport's mission of training qualified pilots
for lives of service.
The taste of sea water and the throaty roar of the breakers. The
feel of warm, solid rock against your body. The wide blue path of
the sky. PUC campus clubs don't just help students cope with being
far from home. They help students explore a higher goal: To live
a life that's far from average.
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