By Bruce Tran
DAILY BRUIN REPORTER
[email protected]
 Daily Bruin File Photo A member of the UCLA snowboaring
and ski team races down the hill in a meet last quarter.
To the west, the ocean serves up some of the best waves in the
country for surfers. To the north, the Santa Monica Mountains
Recreational Area overlooks the Los Angeles area, providing a
scenic backdrop for hikers. To the east, Mammoth Mountain and Big
Bear hold snow slopes for skiers and snowboarders. To the south, an
ice rink is home to skaters.
And in the center? The center is none other than UCLA, a haven
for sports recreation ““ provided you know where to look.
“No other major university in the United States gives you
such a wide array of mountains, beaches and gyms all within such a
close space of one another,” said Richard Samade, a
second-year electrical engineering student. “That’s why
UCLA is such a great place for recreation or just
relaxation.”
The Pacific Ocean is an arena for surfers willing to take on the
waves. Bethany Dwyer, a store clerk at Islands Surf Shop, said
“it’s about being one with the water. You don’t
have to worry about anything else going on.”
For the beginner, Seal Beach is one of the better places to
learn to surf, mainly because of the smaller waves and the gradual
slopeline. But you can pretty much surf anywhere there are waves,
at the cost of just $25 a day to rent a surfboard.
For those who want to stay on land, the Santa Monica Mountains
are the backdrop to UCLA. Hikers have their choice of 550 miles of
trails to see 150,000 acres of steep slopes, flat meadows, sand
beaches and shallow lagoons. The park representatives suggest
packing lightly, bringing enough water to last the day and
purchasing hiking boots.
“I get a really good workout with the steep terrain and
the long distances,” Samade said. “There’s only
untouched wilderness. I don’t have to worry about traffic or
time.”
If you want something cooler, you can either venture to the snow
slopes or the ice rinks. Mammoth Mountain and Big Bear have great
snow for skiers and snowboarders, and it’s just a three- to
four-hour drive away.
“I just happened to go on a ski trip,” said
fourth-year Jennifer Moore, a psychology student who considers
herself to be a skiing novice.
“It’s so fun because you fall on your butt, but you
just get back up. It feels good. You’re bruised, but it feels
good.”
For snowboarders, the classic place to be is Mammoth Mountain,
where many of the Olympic snowboarders reside. The popularity of
the sport is quickly rising, and it’s about $20 to $30 a day
to rent a snowboard.
“There’s freedom on the slopes,” said Yasha
Siddiqi, the manager of ZJ Boarding House in Santa Monica.
“You’re out in the middle of nowhere on a piece of wood
or plastic, and it’s so quiet. You’re just making turns
and you’re in a state of serenity.”
If you prefer ice over snow, the Culver City Ice Rink offers
public sessions and is just a half-hour bus ride away. The cost is
$7 for admission and $3 to rent a pair of skates. The rink also
offers discounts for large parties as well as hockey sessions.
Each recreational activity has one thing in common ““ the
power to allow people to lose themselves. It gives people the
opportunity to escape the world, which ““ for the college
student ““ can be a most valuable tool.