Our first sports interview is Casey Cruciano from Christian Surfers. This interview is a result of the fact that the sport I practice the most is surfing; but don't worry, I will be interviewing people in other extreme sports. If one of my readers knows someone involved with outreach in an extreme sport, please have the person contact me!

Correspondent X

 Casey Cruciano the Director of Finance Christian Surfers

X ~ Dang, really wanted to avoid this question but couldn't find a history page on your website sooo: other than the fact that Jesus was the first person in recorded history to surf barefooted...

ICE Q1- Where and when did Christian Surfers begin?

A-Casey Cruciano- It started in Australia in the late 70s. The movement in the United States began in 1984, independent of Christian Surfers Australia. During the late 80s, the US merged with the what was going on in
Australia and an international movement was born. Since then, Christian Surfers International has grown to over 130 chapters worldwide in 20 countries. Both the founder of CS Australia and CSUS are still actively involved in ministry within the organization.

X ~ Years ago surfing was something that was big only in a few places outside Hawaii like California, Florida, Cape Hatteras, and Texas. But even when I was in high school in the 70’s I admired those few I heard of in New York and the great lakes who paddled out in blizzards for surf. One died from exhaustion caused by hypothermia. Another was seen slipping off his board into the sea by his friends who watched, helpless to save him because they didn't surf. I have a video of river surfing on my myspace and I wonder:

ICE Q2- What other kinds of unlikely places and conditions do people actually surf in the world?

A-Casey Cruciano- With the new wetsuit technology coming out, which includes heated suits, I think surf exploration will go further into colder climates. Nearly all of the biggest storms come out of cold water and send swell to the middle latitudes. Better wetsuits will enable surfing to be more bearable closer to the source of those "roaring 40s" swells.

X ~ I know surfing is popular in Australia and Japan however it is said Hawaiians were the first to surf which I find odd since they migrated there from the Western Pacific.

ICE Q3- Is there any evidence of surfing originating spontaneously elsewhere or did it spread in the 20th Century solely from the Hawaiians?

A-Casey Cruciano- There have been claims that surfing started other places before Hawaii. The most notable and outspoken advocates of this theory are the Peruvians. They say that they have been surfing for nearly 3000 years, according to some reports. The craft they used to surf is a wrapped bundle of sticks that is shaped like a canoe. At our last international conference, the group from Peru brought one of the the surfcraft, as a gift for the conference director.

I think the first to do it solely for pleasure were the Hawaiians. While it is possible others stood up first, they were still on their way to do something else (fishing, in the case of the Peruvians). I guess the distinction I am making draws a line between the broad term "wave riding" and riding waves specifically for enjoyment. The problem I see not forming a delineation there is that everyone who has been on a watercraft (cruise ships, surfboard, motorboats, etc.) which has gone across waves would then be called surfers.

X~ I agree with you on that.