Un Mar de Colores · Lemon Grove, CA
Mentorship & Gear for Lemon Grove Competitive Surfers
One-on-one coaching from certified trainers who understand BIPOC athletes navigating predominantly white lineups.
Un Mar de Colores's Surf Athletic Scholarship program supports competitive BIPOC youth and teens from Lemon Grove 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 (11 miles) and Coronado Central (10 miles) (closest breaks to Lemon Grove). Referrals and nominations come through Lemon Grove School District athletics programs and our partner community organizations.
Schedule — Lemon Grove Program Days
Ongoing · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Your surfer is the only Brown kid at regional contests — lineup culture and judging feel stacked against Lemon Grove athletes.
- —Insurance and liability language on contest sites scare you — nobody walked your family through what scholarship support covers.
- —Physical therapy after surf injuries isn't covered — your athlete pushes through pain because rehab costs too much.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Addresses historical exclusion of Latino, Indigenous, and Black youth from competitive pipelines.
- Nutrition and physical conditioning modules for contest-ready athletes from Lemon Grove.
- Free means free — no copays, no gear deposits, no 'scholarship' that still bills travel.
Why We Run This Program in Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove is 45% Hispanic/Latino and 18% Black — one of the most racially diverse small cities in San Diego County. Our Lemon Grove program partners with Lemon Grove School District (3 Title I schools) for shuttle-based transportation to OB Pier and Coronado Central Beach. Classroom components run at Lemon Grove Public Library.
- Population
- 27,598
- BIPOC residents
- 78%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 40%
- Distance to beach
- 10 mi
Surf Athletic Scholarship in Lemon Grove — What You Should Know
Parents searching surf scholarship near Lemon Grove, CA find pay-to-play contest culture first. Un Mar scholarship is different: BIPOC-led nonprofit support for contest fees, travel from Lemon Grove to regional events, physical therapy, mental performance training, and mentorship from professional BIPOC surfers.
Physical therapy and injury prevention for scholarship surfers — athletes aren't told to push through pain because rehab wasn't budgeted in Lemon Grove households.
Why Lemon Grove Matters to Our Mission
Lemon Grove's Spanish-speaking households (40%) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.
Recruitment in Lemon Grove runs through counselors, teachers, and community partners who know which students need this most. We don't run open enrollment chaos — we build intentional cohorts.
Local Lemon Grove Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Lemon Grove School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 3+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Lemon Grove School District
- •San Altos Elementary
- •San Miguel Elementary
- •Mt. Vernon Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Lemon Grove School District
- ◆Lemon Grove Public Library
- ◆Grossmont Union High School District
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 Lemon Grove 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
Our coaches include graduates of the Surf Athletic Scholarship program and bilingual educators who reflect the BIPOC communities we serve. We partner with 15+ Title I schools across North County and San Diego.
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 Lemon Grove
Is there college counseling for Lemon Grove scholarship surfers?+
Yes — college and pro-surfing pathway counseling covers NCAA surf scholarships, alternative pathways, and honest industry navigation. Lemon Grove teens get support beyond contest heats.
Who qualifies for surf scholarship from Lemon Grove?+
BIPOC youth and teens pursuing competitive surfing at scholarship or professional levels. Priority for athletes demonstrating contest-ready skill and financial need — often referred from Lemon Grove School District counselors or Un Mar surf lessons and camp in Lemon Grove. Competitive enrollment, not open beginner access.
Are contest entry fees paid for Lemon Grove scholars?+
Yes — NSSA, WSA, and regional qualifier entry fees across the California contest circuit are paid for scholarship athletes. Lemon Grove families aren't choosing between groceries and contest registration.
Are surf athletic scholarship in Lemon Grove really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Lemon Grove are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Lemon Grove family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf athletic scholarship happen in Lemon Grove?+
Lemon Grove is 10 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (11 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Lemon Grove School District and partner schools inside Lemon Grove.
What ages can enroll in Lemon Grove?+
We serve youth ages Youth & teens. In Lemon Grove specifically, our recruitment runs through Lemon Grove School District — with priority enrollment for students from San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary. 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 (11 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Lemon Grove, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Lemon Grove School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Lemon Grove?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Lemon Grove, where 40% 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 Lemon Grove?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Lemon Grove surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 78%-BIPOC Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Lemon Grove child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary and referrals from Lemon Grove School District and Lemon Grove Public 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 Lemon Grove participants.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Lemon Grove 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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