Catching waves for ALS funds

Catherine Vasquez had no idea what she was getting into.

For her senior project, the Edison High School senior decided to create her own charity surfing competition, and has been shocked at the reception it’s getting.

She chose to raise funds for Lou Gehrig’s disease, more clinically known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS.

“I knew I wanted to do something to help benefit ALS,” Catherine said. “It is said that ALS is a rare disease, but already, at 17, I have two people in my life affected with it — my former Girl Scout leader, Marce Pasternak, and my mom’s cousin.”

So she merged that passion to find a cure with her love for surfing, and created a new organization, which she called the Surfers Against Lou Gehrig’s Disease Surfing Alliance — or, loosely abbreviated, SALSA.

“I love to surf, and I’ve been competing since I was in junior high school,” Catherine said.

The SALSA competition will be March 14 at the pier; there is a $30 entry fee donation. Proceeds will benefit the ALS Assn.’s Orange County Chapter, Catherine said.

To date, she has raised more than $4,000 of her $10,000 goal through entry fees, donations and sponsorships, and hopes for 100 contestants or more.

“When I first took this project on, I didn’t realize how big it would be,” Catherine said. “I didn’t even really know how to send an e-mail. But people have been so generous, even with the economy.”

She is in a business program at her school, and they have a different project each year. For their senior year, the students have to create their own business.

Catherine has spent the last few months marketing the contest to a local longboard club and other groups, and learning how to solicit in-kind donations from local retailers.

Hurley, Rainbow Sandals, Duke’s and Fred’s have all contributed goods for her raffle and auction; Brett Simpson even donated one of his surfboards.

TruWest is making her jerseys, and is donating swim parkas for the winners.

Suds Sports Grill has offered to host her after-party, and will donate 25% of its profits from the event to SALSA. A friend of Catherine’s will videotape the contest and show it later during the after-party.

Catherine said she’s found the experience to be amazing, now that she’s over the initial panic of putting together such a big project. And she’s found her business calling.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do before, but now I know I want to stay in the surf industry,” Catherine said. “The people are amazing. I’m so stoked.”

Contest divisions include novices, boys, girls, juniors, men, longboarders, seniors and “virtual” surfers, who can send in a donation. Registration is open through March 10.

For more information or to register, visit salsasurfing.org.