CARLSBAD — Trust was built on Sunday between a number of vision impaired surfers and their coaches when they entered the ocean — some for the first time ever — with only a verbal description of what to expect and a surfboard under their arms.
The event — the 21st annual blind surfing event — put on by the Encinitas Lions Club at South Carlsbad State Beach on Sept. 11, is a continual draw for blind or visually impaired people of all ages to hit the waves and spend the day at the beach. Lions Club members, all clad in bright yellow shirts, helped shuttle participants to the beach, where they got set up with wetsuits and surfboards. Before paddling out though, each of the surfers received instructions from surf coaches volunteering from the Urban Surf 4 Kids nonprofit.
