Posted on: Thursday, October 2, 2003

School surfing proposal advances

Advertiser Staff

A subcommittee of the Board of Education voted yesterday to approve surfing as a sanctioned high school sport.

If the proposal eventually wins full board approval, it would be up to Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto to implement policies and regulations.

In the past, board members have expressed concerns about the cost and liability of sanctioning surfing. But they have apparently been persuaded by assurances that schools would not have to supply surfboards or spend much money on the program.

A proponent of the proposal, state Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa), an avid surfer, has testified that the sport is safer than sanctioned contact sports, such as football. School surf clubs have been operating for several years and have never been sued, Oshiro said.