Un Mar de Colores · El Cajon, CA
Pro Surfing Pathways for El Cajon BIPOC Athletes
California contest circuit travel covered — El Cajon families aren't fundraising for every NSSA or WSA event.
Un Mar de Colores's Surf Athletic Scholarship program supports competitive BIPOC youth and teens from El Cajon and the greater San Diego region. Scholarship athletes receive high-performance gear, competition entry fees, coaching, and travel support across the California contest circuit. Training sessions happen at our nearest coastal breaks including OB Pier (14 miles) and Coronado Central (13 miles) (closest breaks to El Cajon). Referrals and nominations come through Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High athletics programs and our partner community organizations.
Schedule — El Cajon Program Days
Ongoing · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Your teen has contest-level skill but every NSSA entry fee and travel weekend costs more than your El Cajon family can sustain.
- —Contest registration deadlines pass because registration fees weren't budgeted this month in your El Cajon household.
- —College surf scholarship counseling doesn't exist at Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High — your teen doesn't know NCAA or alternative pathways.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Coach continuity across seasons builds mentor relationships through multiple contest years.
- Free means free — no copays, no gear deposits, no 'scholarship' that still bills travel.
- High-performance wetsuits and boards provided — contest-grade equipment sized for your athlete.
Why We Run This Program in El Cajon
El Cajon is home to one of the largest Middle Eastern/Chaldean communities in the United States and a 32% Hispanic/Latino population. Our El Cajon cohorts shuttle 14 miles to OB Pier, with cultural programming tailored to the city's unique demographic mix. Cajon Valley Union's Bostonia and Chase Avenue Elementary are our anchor partnerships.
- Population
- 106,215
- BIPOC residents
- 55%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 32%
- Distance to beach
- 14 mi
Surf Athletic Scholarship in El Cajon — What You Should Know
California contest circuit coverage across San Diego — scholarship travel isn't limited to one local beach near OB Pier (14 miles) and Coronado Central (13 miles).
Contest travel costs from El Cajon to California circuit events — NSSA, WSA, regional qualifiers — are covered for scholarship athletes. Families aren't fundraising every weekend (14 miles inland inland adds transport costs Un Mar absorbs).
Why El Cajon Matters to Our Mission
Serving El Cajon means meeting families where they are: San Diego schools, community centers, and partner orgs that already hold trust. We don't wait for families to find the beach — we bring youth to the water.
El Cajon's Spanish-speaking households (32%) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.
Local El Cajon Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 4+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High
- •Bostonia Elementary
- •Chase Avenue Elementary
- •Cajon Valley Middle
- •El Cajon Valley High
Community partners
- ◆Cajon Valley Union School District
- ◆El Cajon Library
- ◆Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce
- ◆Grossmont College (student volunteers)
Program Curriculum
The Surf Athletic Scholarship program supports BIPOC youth and teens pursuing competitive surfing at the scholarship or professional level. The program provides high-performance wetsuits and boards, pays all competition entry fees, covers contest travel costs across the California circuit, and provides one-on-one coaching from certified trainers. Scholarship recipients are mentored by alumni and partner professional BIPOC surfers, and the program specifically addresses the financial barriers that have historically excluded Latino, Indigenous, and Black youth from the competitive surf pipeline.
- →Competitive coaching and contest prep
- →Physical conditioning and nutrition
- →Mental performance and visualization
- →Sponsorship navigation and athlete branding
- →Mentorship from professional BIPOC surfers
- →College and pro-surfing pathway counseling
What's Included — Free for Every El Cajon Youth
- ✓High-performance wetsuits and boards
- ✓Competition entry fees paid
- ✓Travel costs for California contest circuit
- ✓One-on-one coaching from certified trainers
- ✓Physical therapy and injury prevention
- ✓Annual contest gear package
Why Un Mar de Colores
Federal EIN 85-2947340. Mailing: PO BOX 232471, Encinitas, CA 92024. We operate on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay Nation with respect and community accountability.
What our community says
“"He used to approach new activities with extreme anxiety — to the point where sometimes we couldn't even get out of the car. Now he goes much deeper into the water."”
Frequently Asked Questions — Surf Athletic Scholarship in El Cajon
How much does competitive surf coaching cost vs scholarship?+
Private contest coaches in San Diego County often charge $100–$200 per hour. Un Mar scholarship provides one-on-one certified coaching, heat strategy, and mental performance training free for El Cajon recipients — plus fees, travel, and gear.
Are contest entry fees paid for El Cajon scholars?+
Yes — NSSA, WSA, and regional qualifier entry fees across the California contest circuit are paid for scholarship athletes. El Cajon families aren't choosing between groceries and contest registration.
What mental performance training is included?+
Visualization, heat anxiety management, judging pressure strategies, and contest psychology — funded modules for BIPOC athletes facing lineup intimidation in predominantly white contest culture near OB Pier (14 miles) and Coronado Central (13 miles).
Are surf athletic scholarship in El Cajon really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in El Cajon are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No El Cajon family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf athletic scholarship happen in El Cajon?+
El Cajon is 14 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (14 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Cajon Valley Union School District and partner schools inside El Cajon.
What ages can enroll in El Cajon?+
We serve youth ages Youth & teens. In El Cajon specifically, our recruitment runs through Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle and 1 other Title I schools. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
Does my child need to know how to swim before starting?+
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at OB Pier (14 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In El Cajon, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Cajon Valley Union School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in El Cajon?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in El Cajon, where 32% of households are Spanish-speaking, we intentionally pair at least one bilingual coach to every session. Cultural programming is delivered in both languages, and parent communications are always sent in Spanish and English.
How is Un Mar de Colores different from other surf athletic scholarship in El Cajon?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most El Cajon surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 55%-BIPOC El Cajon community we serve; (3) our curriculum includes environmental justice, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts — not just surf skills. We exist because the ocean should belong to everyone in El Cajon, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my El Cajon child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle and referrals from Cajon Valley Union School District and El Cajon Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Free means free. No hidden fees, no gear costs, no transportation charges for El Cajon participants.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for El Cajon youth. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oceanside, California. We provide free surf, ocean, and environmental programming for youth across San Diego and Tijuana — bridging cultures, coasts, and communities since 2018.
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