Posted by Rick Civelli | 01.18.2012 | Employment, WB Surf Camp News

WB Surf Camp Instructor of the Week for 1/16/12 – Marissa Walch

We met Marissa and her ever present smile while she was working for our awesome local Surfrider Foundation chapter a few years ago while she was attending UNCW. Her proactive positivity, desire to motivate and educate people of all ages about local and global environmental issues, and love of surfing made her a perfect match with WB Surf Camp. We’ve loved having her and amazing attitude around our office, within our camps, and amongst our campers over the past couple of years. She’s done it all from Teen Overnight, to Women’s Surf & Yoga, to Guppy Camp. She’s that good! We miss her dearly now that she’s moved on, but we know she’s doing amazing work elsewhere. It doesn’t matter where she is or what she’s doing, she’s continuing to make a positive impact in others’ lives. Check her out and see for yourself…

1. What drew you to a position at WB Surf Camp? A good number of my friends who I went to school with at UNCW were having top notch summers one after the other working for Surf Camp. The opportunity to work with teenagers, educate people about the environment, and SURF 100% drew me to the position. I realized, what better way to spend the summer than in the sun and water with awesome people?!

2. Who is your favorite surfer and why? Rob Machado and Clay Marzo – Clay has a body that moes like Gumby in the water and Rob…just because it’s Rob.

3. When did you start surfing and where? Senior year in high school.  I grew up on Lake Norman, so I had a love for the water and realized that’s where my body felt comfortable and at peace (same yoga feeling) and started in Oak Island, NC and continued when I went to school at UNCW in WB.

4. What is your favorite surf break? San O in California…enough said!

5. What inspired you to start surfing? I craved doing new thing, especially water sports.  I was a big wakeboarder and loved what I could do on a board, so I thought the transition into surfing would be swell once I moved to Wilmington. Taking multiple nose dives still hasn’t driven me away…you get hooked!

6. Where was your most memorable session? Swamis in Encinatas, CA – great evening surf ending a long weekend with friends who came into town.  Long paddle out and long gentle waves bringing us back in. Lots of fun playing on the waves all evening while watching the sun set.

7. What is the worst wipeout you’ve ever had? 8 stitches in my left ear…my friend’s board hit the back of my head and then fin sliced my ear open.  I asked my friend if I was bleeding and her eyes started to bulge…that was the sign to paddle in.  I got taken right to the hospital, numbing shots and then a pressure wrap around my head for 4 days…perfect.

8. What are some of your interests outside of surfing? teaching groupX, yoga, scrap booking, Surfrider Foundation, taking photos, eating good food and being outside in the sun.

9. What is your favorite movie? The Fighter

10. What is your favorite music? Trevor Hall…add to your iTunes NOWWWWWW

11. What is your favorite food? I love food (minus red meat)

12. Where do you see yourself in five years? Well, I just moved to Baltimore, MD, but I should be gone in 5 years from here to another city on the coast (closer to the water of course) and hopefully owning/operating my own yoga/groupX/PT studio/gym and working with the local Surfrider chapter.

13. In your eyes, the three things you value most are: honestly, love and health…keeping smiling!