Alabama,”Isay. “Andyouknow their
motto:Roll, tide, roll.”
BackatRancho,wedecide to trya
different typeof liquidcourage: ashot
of tequilamadeespecially for the
resort.WecoaxKarla,whoworks
concierge forRancho (andalsopoured
ourgenerousshots), tocomewithus for
moregirlpower.Plus,Karlaknowshow
tosurf, so ifwecan’tdo it, at leastoneof
uswill represent.
Withthetarttasteof fresh limestill
lingeringonour lips,MarioBecerril,
founderandownerofMarioSurfSchool,
pullsup inhiswhitetruck.Tall,with
ashavedheadandchiseled,handsome
features,he looks likeabadasssurfer.
Itake ituponmyself towarnhimthatmy
middlename isnot“Grace”andthathe’s
probablygoingtobedisappointedwithus.
Wepile in the truck, and the
questionsstart: “How longhaveyoubeen
surfing?” (sinceage16). “Are theresharks
here?” (no). “Where’syour favoriteplace
barwithhand-cut tortillachipsand
housemadeguacamole,webothadmit
we’rea littlenervous for thesurf lesson
tomorrowmorning.Althoughwehave
friendswhoareregularsurfers,heading
straight into thewateryunknownreally
pushes thecomfortbubble forbothofus.
“My friendKristendoesaerialyoga
becauseshesayssheneedsmoreupper
bodystrength tosurf,”Isay.Weboth
assessourarms.
Wesayaprayer to thesurfinggods.
Andordermargaritas.
“ O O O O O O !
Checkoutyour
cappuccino,”Trishasays.
We’ve justbiked toBajaBeans, the
open-aircoffeeshopaboutamile from
Rancho, forsome liquidcouragebefore
oursurfing lesson.
Thereappears tobeanelephant in
the foam.
I take thisasagreatsign. “Itreminds
meof themascotat theUniversityof
74
SEPTEMBER2015
AMERICANWAY
Training tobe a surfer
is hardwork, but
someonehas todo it.
ABOVE:
Thenew
MasMilagro suite at
RanchoPescadero
A D A N C E , I F Y O U W I L L , W I T H
T H E M O S T P OW E R F U L P A R T N E R
O N E A R T H : M O T H E R N A T U R E
