By Aaron Hughes – Christian Surfers International http://www.christiansurfers.net 

Chile Aid
In February a team from Christian Surfers in Australia and Brazil and Misfit Aid in Sydney joined forces to serve in the Chilean surfing community of Pichilemu. "We achieved so much more than anticipated, having built a home for an earthquake affected family, accomplished much work on a local community centre and run a surf contest!" said team leader Brett Davis.

The Pura Vida Surf Festival was held in pumping waves at Punta de Lobos with 5 divisions that saw local juniors to older longboarders surfing for goodwill, trophies and prizes that their Australian friends had brought over. Local surfer Nathan Anderson said, "The CS team were such an encouragement to us, many people have had a hard time since the earthquake and it's good to know we are not forgotten." The team had an extra challenge when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocked their road trip as they travelled with 10 other Chilean surfers down the south coast - it made for a very speedy pack up of their beachside camping! You can check out blog accounts of the trip at http://bdcsi.blogspot.com and http://misfitaid.tumblr.com. 

ASP Chaplancy Update

ASP recently affirmed chaplaincy at its AGM on the Gold Coast of Australia. Chairman Richard Grellman says, "The ASP is so thankful to CSI for facilitating chaplains to the World Tour. The loss of Andy Irons tested the value of the chaplains and both Abe Andrews and Liselle Wilsnagh did a great job. ASP now considers the chaplains part of the landscape of professional surfing." Andrew Carruthers has just been appointed as the ASP Longboard World Tour Chaplain and he, along with the Men's and Women's World Tour Chaplains, fund their own way with the support of the CS and church community to serve the World Tour professional surfers. 

Brazil Chaplancy Update

Marquito Santos has stepped out of his role as a Presbyterian pastor to be chaplain on the Northern Brazil professional surfing circuit. He says, "I am so stoked to be out amongst the guys whom I have competed with over the years, not just as a competitor now, but as a support to them. There is plenty of need we can meet here." Surfistas de Cristo Brazil President, Sergio Busatto, is stoked that Marquito and also professional photographer Motauray are together chaplains to the whole Brazilian pro circuit. 

Regional Meetings

Regional meetings for Christian Surfers leaders are being held for the Pacific in April in New Zealand, for Africa in April in South Africa, for Europe in France in May, for the Americas in North Peru in July and for Asia also in July, location TBD. These meetings will provide networking and leadership development for Christian Surfers leaders globally. We are already seeing good partnerships come as nations with more resources share with those of fewer resources, including CS Holland recently funding Tablistas Para Cristo in Peru for their ISA World Games support. 

Soul Surfer

Soul Surfer, a new film from Sony Pictures staring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Carrie Underwood and AnnaSophia Robb, will bring to the big screen the remarkable story of Bethany Hamilton, who gained international fame after her arm was taken by a shark over 7 years ago. She has inspired many with her determination, faith and courage to get back into surfing and competition. Soul Surfer will be released globally in April, 2011 and Christian Surfers groups are promoting this to the surf community.

Visit http://www.soulsurferthemovie.com to watch the trailer now. 

Christian Surfers Launches in Spain

Shane Sparks reports that the Christian Surfers movement in Spain is affiliating and organizing themselves as a national movement. "We have had people from all over Spain make contact with us, and our first national meeting amazed us when over 40 surfers showed up! So many Spanish surfers identify negative images with the church and we want to share the love of Jesus with them to change this." 

Visit http://www.christiansurfers.es to learn more and sign up. 

For further information about CS in your nation visit http://www.christiansurfers.net