Dear Florida Surfing Community,
I am the president of the 2023 UF Surf Club and Team, and I am really pleased to write to you about the status of the 2023 team.
This year our team has seen multiple first place finishes in every division: Three from Braidyn Cunningham (Women’s Shortboard), two from Paul Campbell (Men’s Shortboard), one from Cory Gann (Longboard), and several other podium finishes from our other riders.
In addition to these victories, in December, the UF Surf Team won FIRST OVERALL! Beating the nationally renowned UNF team in an NSSA contest! We’ve asked some of our younger alumni when the last time this happened was, and no one seems to remember. We think it’s been at least ten years. (If you know, please email me!) On top of these achievements, we have qualified to compete in the NSSA Nationals in Dana Point California, June 16-18. We haven’t gone since 2019. To put that in perspective, there are currently no students in the club that have been to nationals.
As you may have heard from Rip, due to some complications with the university, we have been operating with zero funding from this year. We have been completely self-funded all year and have paid for our contests through events like alumni challenge, t-shirt sales, and house parties. Nationals are a little different though. The whole trip will cost about $11,200 to send the A team out west. We are currently trying to raise $3,500 through crowdfunding to pay for regionals, nationals, lodging, and ground transportation. Any extra funds raised will go directly into paying for flights for our team.
If you would like to give, you may give via GoFundMe, Venmo @ufsurf, or Tax Deductible.
If you choose to give tax deductible, please note “For Surf Club” in the Recognition Name field and send me an email so the funds can be dispersed into our account.
As a thank you, all donors who pledge $10 or more will be mailed some of our sweet stickers, and a handwritten thank you.
All donors will have their name printed on the back of the upcoming 2023 team rider T-Shirt.
If you choose to give, please fill out this form so we know where to send our thank you.
Any contribution helps, and we are so grateful.
Go Gators!
Sincerely,Micaiah Kennedy, President
