“When you can play with your parents it breaks down some barriers that you don’t even know you needed to break down.”  (Taylor Steele)

Taylor’s quote from his interview for the “In Focus” series immediately came to mind when I was given the news that Nadine, Aaron and sons Josh and Ethan would be the subjects of this month’s feature.  I thought of it again as I imagined barriers being washed away by the surf as I watched them paddle out together into the waves.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s start at the beginning, which in this case is how Nadine and Aaron became involved in surfing. Unlike some multigenerational surfing families around here, the spark started with the individual parents. Nadine and Aaron both started out in places not normally considered to be hotbeds of surfing activity, the Middle East and Middle America. Once they moved here they each discovered surfing and fell in love with it. As their families did not surf, it was up to them to learn on their own and discover surfing was going to be an important part of their lives. Their first date was a surfing one. Being at the beach, particularly Seaside, and riding waves is something they absolutely love to do. They are also especially fond of the sense of community that surfing has given them, and have been members of the Board Rider Club since its founding.

Given all of that, it was natural they would want to surf with their children.  Aaron told me that that was the dream, but they didn’t want to push it on them.  While Nadine was nodding her approval at this, I sensed that she wasn’t exactly willing to leave this up to chance, and probably had put her thumb on the scale to help things along.  My suspicions were confirmed in that while pregnant for both boys she continued to surf up to her sixth month.  Although it is impossible to know how well the lure of the ocean is transmitted through amniotic fluid, I am convinced that it worked in this case. Both boys were surfing by the age of five.  Nadine also proudly stated she saved the board she rode during that time and both her sons have ridden it. Never underestimate a Mom.

At this point in the interview I turned my attention to their boys. Josh and Ethan impressed me as soft spoken, well mannered, and respectful.  At 17 Josh not only surfs, but is a California State Parks Lifeguard. He is the captain of his surf team at Santa Fe Christian. When not competing with his school, he enjoys surfing local contests as well.  At 14 Ethan is now a freshman in high school and has joined his brother on the SFC surf team; Ethan also competes in other local surfing events and the two brothers frequently surf seaside together. 

There is a definite role for competitive athletics in childhood development and both the boys ride competitively.  Neither expressed strong aspirations to go pro. It was clear this isn’t the main reason that they surf. For them riding is definitely for fun.  The boys enjoy surfing together and with their folks. They hope to ride for the rest of their lives and to pass this traditon and love of the ocean and surfing on to their children. 

Thus, while the Castagnas didn’t start out as a multigenerational surfing family, Nadine and Aaron have planted the seeds that are definitely likely to continue growing into the future.

Written and photographed by Nicholas Paoni