Un Mar de Colores · Point Loma, CA
Contest Travel & Coaching — Free for Point Loma Surfers
Physical therapy, injury prevention, and mental performance training — full athlete support, not just board fees.
Un Mar de Colores's Surf Athletic Scholarship program supports competitive BIPOC youth and teens from Point Loma and the greater San Diego region. Scholarship athletes receive high-performance gear, competition entry fees, coaching, and travel support across the California contest circuit. Local training happens at Sunset Cliffs and Garbage Beach (closest breaks to Point Loma). Referrals and nominations come through San Diego Unified School District athletics programs and our partner community organizations.
Schedule — Point Loma Program Days
Ongoing · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Bilingual family support matters — contest world defaults to English-only parent communications.
- —Instagram shows pro surfers from wealthy coastal towns — your Point Loma teen doesn't see a pathway that looks like them.
- —Judging and heat strategy require coaching your teen can't access without paying premium rates in San Diego.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Scholarship recipients often emerge from free surf lessons and camp — clear pipeline from beginner to competitor.
- All competition entry fees paid — NSSA, WSA, and regional events across California circuit.
- Free means free — no copays, no gear deposits, no 'scholarship' that still bills travel.
Why We Run This Program in Point Loma
Point Loma's Sunset Cliffs coastline is too advanced for beginner instruction, but our Point Loma youth cohorts travel to OB Pier and Dog Beach for water sessions, with dryland instruction at Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Nazarene University (our educational partner). The Kumeyaay coastal history of the peninsula is woven into every Point Loma cohort curriculum.
- Population
- 32,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Surf Athletic Scholarship in Point Loma — What You Should Know
Contest travel costs from Point Loma to California circuit events — NSSA, WSA, regional qualifiers — are covered for scholarship athletes. Families aren't fundraising every weekend (on the coast inland adds transport costs Un Mar absorbs).
College surf scholarship counseling for Point Loma teens navigates NCAA pathways, alternative scholarships, and honest pro-surfing industry reality — not fantasy branding workshops.
Why Point Loma Matters to Our Mission
Parents in Point Loma often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Point Loma youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for Point Loma youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.
Local Point Loma Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
- •Cabrillo Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Cabrillo National Monument (NPS)
- ◆Point Loma Nazarene University
- ◆Point Loma Library
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 Point Loma 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
Board and staff leadership is BIPOC-majority. Decisions about Point Loma programming are made with community partners, not corporate sponsors.
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 Point Loma
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 Point Loma recipients — plus fees, travel, and gear.
How is scholarship different from free surf lessons?+
Surf lessons serve beginners ages 6–17 with weekly instruction. Scholarship serves contest-ready BIPOC athletes with fees, travel, high-performance gear, and elite coaching. Many Point Loma scholars start in lessons and advance through pipeline.
Is surf scholarship bilingual for Point Loma families?+
Yes — parent communications during contest season are bilingual. In Point Loma, where 17% of households are Spanish-speaking, logistics, deadlines, and coverage are explained in English and Spanish.
Are surf athletic scholarship in Point Loma really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Point Loma are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Point Loma family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf athletic scholarship happen in Point Loma?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Point Loma?+
We serve youth ages Youth & teens. In Point Loma specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High, Cabrillo 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 Sunset Cliffs, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Point Loma, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at local community pools for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Point Loma?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Point Loma, where 17% 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 Point Loma?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Point Loma surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Point Loma 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 Point Loma, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Point Loma child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary and referrals from Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Join hundreds of Point Loma families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Point Loma 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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