BROWNWOOD – July 24, 2025 – At the end of the HPU’s spring semester, Kim Rosato, adjunct professor of kinesiology, took her surfing class on a road trip to Encinitas, California. In addition to surfing lessons and surfing, the class also went on hiking trips around the area and participated in a service project.
“This surfing trip was probably hands down the best trip I've ever gone on,” said Andrea Windell, sophomore nursing major. “Learning to surf was super fun and easy and the instructors were so nice and encouraging. I loved being by the ocean just relaxing taking it all in. It was a great trip and experience. I'd highly recommend it to anyone to go.”
The students took surfing lessons and were able to surf in the ocean several times. During the trip, the class camped at San Elijo State Beach, visited Swami’s Botanical Meditation Garden, La Jolla and Pirates Cove in Newport as well as hiked Annie’s Canyon Trail and Torrey Pines. The service project this year was picking up trash on the beach.
“The HPU surf trip is a great way to build community and stay active,” said Madison Dague, senior elementary education major. “The trip is cost effective and pre-planned, so students do not have to be responsible for planning transportation, lodging, or meals on their own. Mrs. Rosato is a wonderful professor who exhibits great care for each student. The trip is both relaxing and fun.”
The surfing class has been offered each Spring semester for over 15 consecutive years, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID. The class meets once a week throughout the semester learning a variety of concepts related to surfing, including the important concept of how to correctly “pop-up” on a surfboard. The course culminates with the trip to California where the students work with surfing professionals who help them “put everything together.”
“What I loved about this year’s trip was how relaxing, laid-back, and genuinely fun it was,” said Abby Proctor, sophomore elementary education major. “Being my second-year surfing, I felt like I learned so much more—not just about riding the waves, but also about how to read them and the culture around surfing. I fell even more in love with California. If you enjoy the beach, being active, or just want a fun adventure, I’d definitely recommend the surfing trip!”
Classes like surfing are offered through the Department of Kinesiology to fulfill the general education activity course requirements. The range of activities courses is extensive, especially considering the relative size of HPU. Examples of other outdoor activity courses offered range from skiing and snowboarding, to kayaking, paddleboarding and rock climbing.
For more information about Howard Payne University, please visit www.hputx.edu.
Howard Payne University is a Christ-centered, close-knit academic community located in the heart of Texas since 1889.