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Surf's Up at SB Squash

by Mike Lewis

“Surf’s up!” The first words I hear on the morning bulletin at my junior high school in Santa Barbara, California. As usual, the surf club spokesman is notifying all kids of the unusually large waves being spotted throughout the beaches of Santa Barbara. Now, if I were a surfer, I don’t think I would stand out from any other student here at school. However, being the only squash player in at a public Junior High School with an enrollment of one thousand kids has always raised eyebrows to those familiar and to those not so familiar with the game of squash.

To those who understand the sport of squash, they are simply baffled by my choice to play it as my major sport. It is understood that squash is a part of daily life in many cities throughout the East Coast of America, but in California? This is unheard of and a general waste of time. To those who don’t know the game, which in this case is the majority of Californians as well as my 999 fellow students, the thought alone of participating in a game that is better known as a vegetable than as a sport on the West Coast is strange in itself. I would truly estimate that during the school year, I would be approached and questioned about the sport of squash at least one time every single day. However, the general consensus about squash in California is terribly wrong.

Southern California is not only an adequate place to play and promote the game of squash, southern California is the perfect place to play and promote this terrific sport. There is not one objection of why southern California cannot create the daily squash atmosphere and lifestyle that many East Coast cities such as Philadelphia and Greenwich have developed. Even better, it doesn’t snow out here!

What more could a squash fanatic ask for? The money is attainable via sponsorships from racquet and shoe companies looking to expand westward in marketing, the interest is undoubtedly present; it just has to be given the opportunity. Since living here, I have brought eight of my friends to the squash club to try out the game of squash. All eight boys are exceptional athletes and furthermore play extremely competitively in various sports. After playing the game for only one time, all eight boys were not only amused, but hooked. Every singe one of my friends asked – begged – me to take them back to the club again, and all were interested in picking up this great sport.

This fact alone proves to me that if squash were available to youths – say at a local YMCA – there would without a doubt be an unbelievable amount of interest. If Californians were given the chance to try out squash at their own leisure, the sport would sky rocket in popularity and participation. All it takes is an introduction. An opportunity. Squash can not only survive in southern California, it can prosper in southern California. There is no reason in my mind why Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, or San Diego can not become the next powerhouse of junior squash. If the USSRA could establish big-time legitimate junior tournaments on the west coast, then junior players in California would not have to travel across the country to play in tournaments solely to attain a ranking. Instead, one could play in 4 sanctioned tournaments located in southern California and nearby states and suddenly kids from the west coast are listed right up there in the rankings with everyone else! It is this simple.

It’s precisely two o’clock in the afternoon, and I sprint out of school and into my mothers awaiting car on the side of the street. We start our daily commute to the squash club, stopping five minutes later a local deli for a quick snack. As we merge back onto the highway, I glance over my left shoulder and sit in awe as I stare out onto the lush, ubiquitous Pacific Ocean. It has been two years now that I have daily passed by this sight, yet there is not a time where I do not find myself staring out at one of nature’s most beautiful creations. I suddenly snap out of my gaze, just in time to swipe off a drop of mayonnaise that had made its way on to the tip of my hoagie. I turn my head in the opposite direction this time, and once again I find myself dazing out at the bold, omnipresent Santa Ynez Mountains. These two amazing views still give me goose bumps to this day. It’s what I call “pre-squash motivation”. You definitely can’t find that in New York.

It’s Tuesday, the day I participate in my weekly lesson with our club pro, Robert Graham. I silently hope that today he does not remember the 40 push-ups that I owe him from a friendly wager on a bet from last weeks lesson. At the time, I thought that I had brought my squash “A-Game” and was capable of beating him in a game… Apparently I left my A-Game at home. Although somewhat of a disciplinarian, I feel that Robert prepares me in every way possible to fulfill my highest potential in the game of squash. It is for that reason of why I have the utmost respect for Robert as a squash player and person alike.

I stretch out, for I am terribly sore from yesterday’s “Men’s Night” clinic, a 90 minute session hosted by professional squash player Jason Jewell, USA Team member and a distinguished squash alumnus of Princeton University. I am a regular at Men’s Night, and I feel that the knowledge that I learn from Jason goes beyond boasts and drop shots. This could be because Jason can relate to my situation as an aspiring young squash player with all of the motivation in the world. It’s always a privilege to be on the same court with Jason.

After stretching, I jog over to the Adult League Division Bulletin Board. I notice that I have a crucial “Division 3” league match the following day, a must win.. I would have scheduled the match for Thursday, except that Thursday is my much-loved training session with Debbie Brown, the recently crowned U.S. National Champion for the Women’s 40+ Division. Thursday’s are always very beneficial to me, because Debbie is a person that can evaluate my weaknesses accurately and help me improve them in a short amount of time. We work on finesse, technique, and the correct footwork and fundamentals of the game. Debbie and I are both hard workers, which in turn makes the drills that we do much more productive and advantageous for the both of us. I believe that Debbie gives me training lessons because it actually improves her squash game as well. As with Jason, it has been and always will be an honor to share a squash court with Debbie Brown.

It is now precisely 2:55 PM. I am about to step on court to prepare for my 3:00 lesson when I dash outside to the pool deck. I take one last gaze out onto the magnificent Pacific Ocean, glimmering in the warm California sun. I pause for a minute and slowly begin to walk back inside, full of energy and motivation for my upcoming lesson. This is my home court, and there is no place I would rather be. It’s the perfect combination of squash in southern California. I see the opportunity. Now it’s time for everyone else to wake up and see it as well. The surf is up in Santa Barbara, California.