To Surf and To Serve: South Jersey Boardriders Group is Part of a New Wave
7 Mile Island Boardriders co-captain Casey O’Hara in action.
Community, culture, conservation. These three words have become the foundational pillars and the inspiration for a local nonprofit organization to recognize surfing as something that is more than just a sport.
This surfing organization known as South Jersey Boardriders began with Kevin Morris, part owner of Heritage Surf Shop. Morris, the group’s president, and vice president Rob Kelly have worked to extend the Boardriders organization into New Jersey in order to make a lasting impression on the local surfing communities.
This Boardriders organization is not exclusive to New Jersey. In fact, the idea for the creation of a local surfing community was based on Boardrider organizations in Australia. Similar to the concept of country clubs in the United States, Boardrider organizations in Australia encourage the teaching and practicing of the sport of surfing, as well as the community interaction. These surfing communities consist of people of all ages who can learn together, surf together, and create friendships. Within the United States, Boardrider communities began in California. From there, the surfing organization spread throughout the country and made its way to the Jersey Shore.
That’s where Casey O’Hara and Scott Ohntrup come in. As co-captains of the 7 Mile Island Boardriders, O’Hara and Ohntrup work in conjunction with the South Jersey Boardriders organization to ensure the success of Stone Harbor and Avalon’s local surfing community and the fulfillment of their three foundational pillars. O’Hara and Ohntrup began the 7 Mile Island Boardriders organization in 2019.
“South Jersey Boardriders is our nonprofit organization overarching everything. There’s eight divisions within that South Jersey Boardriders entity,” Ohntrup says. Some other Boardrider teams that run along the New Jersey coastline include Cape May, Wildwood, and Ocean City.
While New Jersey might not be thought of as a surf hub, South Jersey Boardriders believe their organization can help boost the New Jersey surfing culture.
“I think another thing that is part of [Morris’s] motivation of getting [South Jersey Boardriders] up and running is to really keep New Jersey on the map,” Ohntrup says. “Boardriders is growing and growing within the state of California, and most people think of California as hub of surfing in America. But that’s changing.”
The change he mentions alludes to the South Jersey Boardriders’ efforts to create a strong surf culture in New Jersey.
“What we’re trying to introduce is that infrastructure of multiple ages coming together as a community, surfing, and bringing the sport up to a new level,” Ohntrup says.
In order to accomplish this goal, the South Jersey Boardriders have developed the aforementioned pillars to uphold and motivate them in their activities. These foundational pillars of community, culture, and conservation are present in all of the actions of the South Jersey Boardriders.
“What we try to provide with membership is opportunities to help in our pillars, whether it’s through beach cleanups or other events,” Ohntrup says. The three pillars remind the South Jersey Boardriders of their objectives as a nonprofit organization.
It is clear that through these pillars, there is more to the organization than just surfing itself. O’Hara and Ohntrup both emphasize the importance of community, education, and giving back.
South Jersey Boardriders provide ocean education for their members, which includes teaching about the dangers of rip currents. Along with education, O’Hara and Ohntrup emphasize the importance of cleaning up our beaches. Similarly, the organization hosts surfboard drives in which members can donate surfboards to be delivered to underprivileged children.
Even though the 7 Mile Island Boardriders organization is still relatively new, both O’Hara and Ohntrup have had some memorable experiences that have made lasting impressions on them.
“I think the most satisfying aspect of [being a part of the Boardriders] was when I went to a special-needs school, and I saw the level of appreciation,” O’Hara says.
Through South Jersey Boardriders, O’Hara was able to travel to a local special services school and give surfboards to children. “It was an emotional day for me,” O’Hara recalls. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces as they received surfboards was something that O’Hara could hardly put into words.
Ohntrup has also felt the gratification in giving back. However, one thing about the Boardrider organization that Ohntrup appreciates is the local community that is created with members of all ages.
“What is really rewarding is being able to see some younger kids and being able to recognize them and talk to them,” Ohntrup said. “That’s really a big part of [South Jersey Boardriders]. It’s that connection.”
Aside from the many community and conservation facets of the South Jersey Boardriders organization, it is still a competitive entity that strives to keep the culture of surfing alive. However, the means of competition are different from what one may think.
“Competitive surfing can be intimidating,” O’Hara says. He notes that when people think about surfing, they imagine a very individual sport, person versus person. While the Boardriders still encourage competition, the aspect of community is emphasized through their activities and events. South Jersey Boardrider competitions are town vs. town, allowing members of each South Jersey division to feel a part of a team as they compete against other towns.
Both O’Hara and Ohntrup have many plans to keep growing the success of the 7 Mile Island Boardriders. They plan to host more town-vs.-town competitions, board drives, and beach cleanups throughout the year.
They even hope to travel out to California to compete against some West Coast Boardrider teams. In early 2020, before the halt of travel and other activity due to the coronavirus, the South Jersey Boardriders had planned to take their teams out to the West Coast and compete against California Boardrider teams, according to O’Hara and Ohntrup. While these plans were canceled, O’Hara and Ohntrup hope to accomplish this in the near future.
As far as the creation of more Boardrider communities in the United States, O’Hara and Ohntrup say that new teams are in the works. There is talk of Boardrider communities beginning in places like Long Island and farther up and down the East Coast.
Surfer or not, South Jersey Boardriders is a welcoming organization that strives to cultivate community, foster a strong surfing culture, and teach about conservation to individuals willing to learn.
Be sure to check out South Jersey Boardriders and 7 Mile Island Boardriders on Instagram at @SJBoardriders and @7MileBoardriders. For more information about becoming a member of a community greater than just the sport of surfing itself, visit sjboardriders.com.