Clubs allow students to stay active both inside and outside of campus, including the surf club, run club and pickleball club.

The surf club is available to Concordia students, allowing students of any skill level to come together to surf. “Whether someone is an experienced surfer or has never touched a surfboard before, they are welcome,” said junior Sophia Meyer, surf club president. “We typically plan meetups at local beaches, provide tips for beginners and just have fun in the water.” 

Meyer hopes to revamp the club to build a community for people who love surfing or want to try it for the first time. “Surfing is such a big part of the culture here in Southern California, and I felt that having a club dedicated to it would be a great way for students to connect, get outside and enjoy the ocean together,” said Meyer.

The surf club is planning a coffee and surf session and a sunrise surf session. The coffee and surf session will have everyone meet at a coffee shop where the club will pay for their coffee and then go surfing together. A beach bonfire will follow the sunrise surf session. 

“We also hope to collaborate with other clubs for beach cleanups and community events,” said Meyer. Interested students can find updates regarding the events on their Instagram page @cui_surfclub. 

The run club meets every Saturday at 8 a.m. on Uppers Lawn. Recently, they hosted their Valentine’s Day run on Feb., 15 where runners were encouraged to wear red and pink. They were able to enjoy strawberries after their run. 

“I joined the run club because it’s more fun to work out with friends,” said Britton Cheney, junior. “Involvement with the club has given me more motivation to run and it’s a great way to start my day.”

Past run club events include a Christmas sweater 5K run, a New Year 5K run and the Breast Cancer Awareness 5K run. The Breast Cancer Awareness run took place on Nov., 2, where students were welcomed to donate. Donations went to support Breast Cancer Angels, an Orange County organization that supports individuals with breast cancer.

“My favorite event with the run club has been the Breast Cancer Awareness 5K because it was cool to see so many people rally around a common cause and encourage each other,” said Cheney. “Students should join the run club because it allows you to meet new people, improve your cardiovascular fitness and have fun all at the same time!”

The recent popularity of pickleball has brought a new club on campus. Pickle Power, also known as the pickleball club, has hosted freeplay hours, usually on Mon., Thurs., and Fri., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the tennis courts. Students can bring their own paddles or rent one from CU Active. Specific updates on their weekly schedule can be found on ASCUI’s Eagle Insider. 

Participation in physical activities is essential, especially for students. “Physical activity supports good mood, reduces stress and anxiety, protects against negative emotion, and supports deeper, more restful sleep,” said Dr. Nathan Meier, professor of Kinesiology. “In addition, the immune system is often taxed under times of high stress making it more likely to get sick around midterms or finals. Being active helps to maintain good immune function and also moderates the effect of stress on the body favorably.”

Meier encourages students to take part in activities they enjoy best. He explained that U.S. Physical Activity guidelines recommend Americans participate in about 2.5 hours of moderate activity per week. Concordia’s clubs provide opportunities for students to find activities they can have fun participating in, allowing them to move their bodies and join a community on campus. 

Tags: clubs, Clubs and Organizations

---

About Kiara Azuma

More articles by Kiara Azuma