Un Mar de Colores · Sunset Cliffs, CA
BIPOC Surf Scholarship Program in Sunset Cliffs, CA
Sponsorship navigation and athlete branding taught honestly — how the industry works, not fantasy marketing.
Un Mar de Colores's Surf Athletic Scholarship program supports competitive BIPOC youth and teens from Sunset Cliffs 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 Ab Seven Stairs (closest breaks to Sunset Cliffs). Referrals and nominations come through San Diego Unified School District athletics programs and our partner community organizations.
Schedule — Sunset Cliffs 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 Sunset Cliffs athletes.
- —College surf scholarship counseling doesn't exist at San Diego Unified School District — your teen doesn't know NCAA or alternative pathways.
- —Your athlete trains alone — no mentorship from BIPOC pros who navigated the same barriers from inland Sunset Cliffs.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Free means free — no copays, no gear deposits, no 'scholarship' that still bills travel.
- Annual contest gear package ensures equipment parity at every event.
- Nutrition and physical conditioning modules for contest-ready athletes from Sunset Cliffs.
Why We Run This Program in Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs is an advanced-only surf zone — we do not teach beginners here. Instead, our Sunset Cliffs programming focuses on our Surf Athletic Scholarship athletes and shoreline environmental stewardship at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, partnering with the San Diego Park & Recreation Department on tide-pool conservation days.
- Population
- 14,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 15%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Surf Athletic Scholarship in Sunset Cliffs — What You Should Know
Un Mar scholarship alumni often return as coaches — Sunset Cliffs contest culture builds from within, not imported from tourist surf towns.
Parents searching surf scholarship near Sunset Cliffs, CA find pay-to-play contest culture first. Un Mar scholarship is different: BIPOC-led nonprofit support for contest fees, travel from Sunset Cliffs to regional events, physical therapy, mental performance training, and mentorship from professional BIPOC surfers.
Why Sunset Cliffs Matters to Our Mission
Sunset Cliffs's relationship to the Pacific is complicated by history and economics. Our curriculum weaves Kumeyaay coastal stewardship, environmental justice, and culturally grounded instruction into every session — not as an add-on, but as the foundation.
Sunset Cliffs families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 34% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.
Local Sunset Cliffs Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 1+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
Community partners
- ◆Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council
- ◆Point Loma Surfers Association
- ◆San Diego Park & Recreation Department
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 Sunset Cliffs 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 impact is measured in youth served, school partnerships, and watershed stewardship hours — published annually in our impact reports at mar-de-colores.org.
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 Sunset Cliffs
What gear do scholarship surfers receive?+
High-performance wetsuits and contest boards sized for competition conditions — plus an annual contest gear package. Not beginner soft-tops. Equipment parity for Sunset Cliffs athletes competing near Sunset Cliffs and Ab Seven Stairs and across San Diego.
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 Sunset Cliffs recipients — plus fees, travel, and gear.
Does scholarship include injury support?+
Yes — physical therapy and injury prevention are included. Sunset Cliffs athletes aren't told to compete through pain because rehab wasn't budgeted at home.
Are surf athletic scholarship in Sunset Cliffs really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Sunset Cliffs are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Sunset Cliffs family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf athletic scholarship happen in Sunset Cliffs?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Sunset Cliffs?+
We serve youth ages Youth & teens. In Sunset Cliffs specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High. 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 Sunset Cliffs, 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 Sunset Cliffs?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Sunset Cliffs, where 15% 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 Sunset Cliffs?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Sunset Cliffs surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Sunset Cliffs 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 Sunset Cliffs, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Sunset Cliffs child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High and referrals from Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and Point Loma Surfers Association. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Join hundreds of Sunset Cliffs families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Sunset Cliffs 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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