Saturdays are for free surfing in Deerfield Beach (includes audio slideshow)

Puerto Rican native Alejandro Gomez Lopez has taken his quest for adventure out of PR and into Deerfield Beach.

He and his friends washed up at Island Water Sports, the local surf shop and treasure trove for avid beachgoers. Upon discovering its weekly free Saturday morning surf lessons, Gomez discovered a newfound love for this water sport that unites daredevils and tourists.

Surfing has become something spiritual for Gomez. He loves the mental and physical sensation.

“After all the time trying to get up on that wave, when I finally got up, I was just laughing,” he says.

To learn how you can attend one of these free surf lessons, visit Island Water Sports’ website.

Jacqueline Pecker is an Honors College student at Florida International University who is pursuing a career in the entertainment media industry.

Pecker is a social media and graphic design coordinator for The Foundation for Palm Beach State College, where she uses her skills in video editing and writing to produce stories about students, the college, and Palm Beach County community. She aspires to work as a multimedia specialist at a media and entertainment company in the future.

Pecker will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor’s degree in digital communication and media in the Fall 2025.