The lifeguards clear out a section for us

In 2012 , a group of beachgoers were hanging out on the sand in Del Mar. They started recognizing each other as regular beachgoers, started socializing and going out to eat. But they had one thing in common — they loved to body surf. Thus was born the Del Mar BodySurfing Club.

The club, with about 60 members of all ages, meets every Saturday and Sunday around 9:00 a.m. in front of the Del Mar Lifeguard Tower at 17th Street. Their youngest member is eight years old.

“The lifeguards clear out a section for us from the surfers. We don’t have to worry about getting hit in the head by a board,” said member Dr. Greg Sahagian.

The club will have around ten hardcore bodysurfers show up in the wintertime. But in the summer, the club will attract 20–30 members.

The group fields a competition team. They’ll compete at the annual World Bodysurfing Championships held in Oceanside.

Meredith Rose is member. Rose currently holds the World Bodysurfing championship for a woman in her age group.

“Bodysurfing is not like surfing where you can get sponsored and make a living doing it,” says Sahagian. “It’s just a passion.”

The club has morphed into a community service organization, says the club’s quasi-chairperson Vince Askey. “We do beach clean-ups, food distribution, and a big barbecue for disabled military,” said Askey.

On March 25, club members broke the world record for the largest number of female bodysurfers on one wave - thirteen. A bigger event is planned for over the summer.