Surfing offered as ingredient for Mideast peace

By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer | Wednesday, September 5, 2007 1:02 AM PDT ∞

U.S. surfer Dorian Paskowitz, 86, foreground, from Hawaii carries two surfboards that are part of a personal donation to Palestinian youths in the Gaza Strip, at the Erez Crossing, Tuesday, Aug. 21. Paskowitz believes surfing can bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians and he's come here with boards to press his point. Paskowitz arrived at the Erez crossing into Gaza on Tuesday to hand over 12 surfboards he is donating to Gaza's small surfing community.
TSAFRIR ABAYOV Associated Press

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A Jewish doctor who runs a surf camp at San Onofre and his rock musician son from San Marcos hand-delivered a bulky peace package to Gaza last month.

Fifty years after he introduced surfing to Israel, Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, 86, returned with his son, David, 48, to bring 14 surfboards to Palestinian surfers. At a heavily fortified crossing into Gaza, with news cameras looking on, the father-son duo also made gifts of the shirts off their backs.

"In the heart of the common man, in the heart of the mother with child on both sides of the conflict, all you have to do is reach out and show some unselfish act of generosity," David Paskowitz said.

In recent interviews, the Paskowitzes reflected on their experiences and involvement in Surfing for Peace, a movement that aims to unify surfers in the Middle East.

The elder Paskowitz went to Israel in 1956 during that country's war against Egypt. He tried to enlist in Israel's military but was not accepted, according to The Associated Press. He instead went surfing at Frishman Beach off Tel Aviv, where Israelis were delighted by the unusual sight of an upright man riding waves.

Over the years, his family has become known as the "first family" of surfing. The Paskowitzes started a surfing camp in San Onofre in 1972, which continues today and includes locations on the East Coast, and in Hawaii and Mexico.

The doctor, who splits his time between Dana Point and Hawaii, continues to surf and attributes his longevity to surfing, fitness and a healthy diet. His book, "Surfing and Health," focuses on those topics.

David, one of his nine children, lives in San Marcos and has two teenage daughters.

Working with the Paskowitz duo in Israel is Arthur Rashkovan, 28, a top Israeli surfer and the "ninth son" of the family. Ten years ago, before serving in the Israeli army, Rashkovan taught surfing at the Paskowitz surf camp in San Onofre.

Contacted by telephone at his Tel Aviv home last week, Rashkovan said Israel supports four surfboard manufacturers and a sizable surfing community. He said good waves break on the shores of Israel, Gaza and Lebanon.

"When I hear of other surfers who live across Gaza and ride the same waves I ride, I keep thinking maybe there's some other way to get across this historical stalemate," Rashkovan said.

"Surfing is a source of pure joy," he said. "I'm thinking maybe I can share the same thing with these (Palestinian) guys who ride the same waves I ride, on the same swell and on the same day. For me, it's the beginning of a dream come true."

He was with the doctor and his son Aug. 21 at the Eraz crossing into Gaza, where mortar fire and racial tensions are a daily reality.

The Paskowitzes had traveled thousands of miles, but moving surfboards the final 50 yards into Gaza proved to be the toughest distance to cross, Dorian Paskowitz said last week.

"How do you get presents to your enemy?" he said

For two hours, Paskowitz said, he negotiated with heavily armed Israeli authorities to allow him to complete his delivery, employing teardrops, hugs and kisses to sway the guards.

Eventually, they relented and let two Gaza residents approach the visitors through a labyrinth of barricades. Dorian and David Paskowitz, wearing black T-shirts provided by surfing great Kelly Slater, faced the Arab men.

The Paskowitzes removed their shirts and handed them to the Arabs.

"They broke down in tears," Dorian Paskowitz said. "One of the guys from Gaza was just blubbering, he was beside himself with tearfulness."

With one goodwill mission completed, the Paskowitzes said they now are concentrating on getting more gear and good vibes to impoverished Gaza. They want clothing, surfing equipment and surfboards, especially soft-topped longboards for beginners. They want $5,000 to ship the bounty they and Los Angeles-based Gaza Surf Relief can collect.

They hope to complete their collections and delivery by Oct. 18, when a concert and surfing festival is planned at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv.

David Paskowitz is the flamboyant singer for the heavy metal band, Metalsnake, and the funk band, Goldfish. He says he is in talks with artists such as Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder to perform. They and other musicians are donating material to a related album, Artists for Peace.

The younger Paskowitz also is enlisting leading surfers past and present -- Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Tom Curren and Makua Rothman, among others -- to lend their names and talents to the event and to Surfing for Peace.

"This has nothing to do with any one of us or our self-serving intentions," David Paskowitz said. "This is everyone thinking of one thing at the same time: We're surfing for peace."

-- Contact staff writer Adam Kaye at (760) 901-4074 or akaye@nctimes.com.