Pendleton Surf Club in Osider Magazine

It’s no secret Camp Pendleton is home to renowned surf breaks at Del Mar Jetty (DMJ) and San Onofre. However, it’s only the fortunate few that get to freely surf the notorious breaks and those fortunate few deserve every single wave they can ride.

Surfing is such a powerful healing force, and the Pendleton Surf Club is a 501(c) (3) formed to offer that stoke to all active duty and retired service members.

“The club has been established to spread the positive force of surfing to the military members here on the base that make the sacrifices on a daily basis for our country’s freedoms.”

The Pendleton Surf Club began in 2003 when current president and co-founder, Eric Franklin, Big Frankie, was an active duty Marine. According to Eric, “Our objective is to bring them in, teach them, meet their peers, get in the water and connect.” With approximately 400 members, the organization is going strong and continuing to grow. It’s young active duty Marines, like current secretary, Skylar Hays, ‘Sky Dog,’ that benefit. “The quality of life since I joined is exponential,” Skylar stated.

“Surfing is an outlet. We’re a volunteer surfing organization, and a lot of us are recovering together with no judgment because it’s military to military, we understand each other,” Eric said.

The club meets regularly at DMJ and San Onofre, and quarterly at Pacific Coast Spirits in downtown Oceanside. In fact, Pendleton Surf Club proudly displays their board on the wall at Pacific Coast Spirits who also donated a $1,000 check from the proceeds of their March featured drink, “Guava Glow,” which is now found on their regular drink menu.

Upcoming, Pendleton Surf Club is proud to present their biggest event of the year, a WSA-managed surfing competition at Church Surf Break in San Onofre on October 3-6, 2024, in honor of Marine Vet, Dave Marshal. The competition fee includes camping on the beach and three days of competition with all food provided. It’s open to 150 competitors that are active duty, veteran, and limited space for civilians associated with the military.

It’s going to be an epic, unforgettable weekend to honor a fallen member of their community, and enjoy each other’s company. The Pendleton Surf Club will partner with three other veteran surf organizations: SWEL, Veteran Surf Alliance, and One More Wave.

The Pendleton Surf Club prides itself on being actively involved and in service to the community-both on and off base. They participate and volunteer at events such as Super Girl Pro, Surfing Madonna Oceans Project, Taste of Oceanside, and the Fourth of July Parade. The camaraderie that ensues both in the water and on land is one that keeps members coming back. Josh Thompson, ‘Boats,’ is retiring from the United States Coast Guard and stated, “The Pendleton Surf Club is the ideal way to stay connected to my military family and the ocean. I get to see these guys in the water, and then go and hang out.”

Membership is for all active duty, reserve, DOD personnel, retirees, family members, veterans, and civilians; and there are no membership fees for active duty military.

Becoming a member is simple, go to the website: pendletonsurfclub.com and sign up!

New members will be added to the email distribution and receive a membership card, t-shirt, and stickers.

Oceanside is proud of our military heritage and The Pendleton Surf Club is a welcome organization that unites Oceanside and Camp Pendleton. Thank you, Pendleton Surf Club for your service and for sharing the stoke. “Get After It!”

The July/August 2024 issue of the Osider Magazine
WORDS: ELIZABETH SCHWARTZE
PHOTOS: JESSE LOPEZ