Oh yeah...Leave it to Hawaii to recognize the power that surfing can have in a young person's life. Seriously, there is nothing that separates surfing from other sports except the absence of a ball (not to say it doesn't take real balls). There's fitness, team work, focus, and a heck of a lot more future in it than curling or even gymnastics. Why shouldn't there be a super star surf team at every (coastal) school competing for county and regional titles? Lots of surf kids have no school approved outlet if they don't buy into the basic list of common sports and such.

Countless kids live their surfing life like an outcast without a real home...a real place to belong while football and baseball players enjoy all the spoils of high school existense. Is that fair? I think not. If sports are about athleticism and competition, then surfing is for you and your kid.