< Previous50 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 Teagan Pfost catches a wave under the watchful eye of surf instructor Ben Hughes during one of Ohana Surf & Skate’s summer camps in Galveston. (Opposite) Surf instructor Rob Moes has a group practice paddling a board through waves. COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 51 SHIP SHAPE SUPER STOKED Surfing has many health benefits for children and adults story by LAURA PENNINO | photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS H undreds of tourists and locals are catching a wave or a few in Galveston this sum- mer, thanks to guidance from Ohana Surf & Skate owner William “Boog” Cram and surfing instructors. Cram, a Galveston Island native who opened Ohana Surf & Skate 20 years ago, hosts 300 to 400 kids and teens for surf camps. The shop also offers individu- al and group private surfing lessons for all ages. Surf instructors around the world agree that surfing is good for a child’s physical health because it requires pad- dling and kicking that give the upper-body, back and legs an intense workout. When children start to stand on boards, they engage their core to keep their balance. Surfing offers extensive physical and mental health ben- efits, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and other sources. Some of them include improving cardiovascu- lar fitness, building strength and endurance, enhancing sleep quality and reducing stress. But the surf camps also teach valuable skills, Cram said. Surf campers learn how to choose their surf boards, how to set up their boards properly and how waves are generat- ed, he said. “They also learn water etiquette and the mechanics of get- ting from the prone position up to the proper standing posi- tion,” Cram said. “Most important, we teach our kids in surf camp how to have fun and work as a group of like-minded surfers. Everything that we teach in our kids camps, we also teach the adults.” Kids surf camps happen all summer long — from the 52 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 SHIP SHAPE last day of school until school begins again in August. “Signing up for surfing les- sons and becoming an instruc- tor has completely changed my life,” said Mallie Sullivan, a 16-year-old Ohana Surf & Skate Surf Camp instructor and Ball High School student. “I’ve met so many amazing people through this organization, and I’ve been given the ability to do something fun while staying active. I believe every person should learn to surf, because you never know what you could do if you never try.” COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 53 Sullivan’s mother registered her to attend a surf camp at Ohana Surf & Skate when she was 6 years old. “I continued the surf camps every summer until I entered high school,” Sullivan said. “It became a tradition that I looked forward to all year. Surfing has always been a big part of my life since then, because it has always been a fun way to so- cialize and exercise at the same time.” Elycia Cooley is a surfing enthusiast who is home in Gal- veston on summer break from William Penn University in Os- kaloosa, Iowa, where she plays on the women’s soccer team. She worked with Cram and his team for four years. “I’ve come to appreciate the culture and sense of community not just within the shop, but also especially through the surf camps, even during the seasons I wasn’t directly involved,” Cool- ey said. “As a soccer player, I’ve always appreciated how staying active supports both mental and physical wellbeing. Surfing of- fers the same benefits in its own unique way. It builds strength, balance and stamina, but it also provides a mental reset that comes from simply being in the water.” Cooley believes that surfing is for everyone. “You don’t have to be super competitive or a pro,” she said. “It’s a great way to stay active and challenge yourself at any age. Whether you’re 7 or 70, it’s something you can learn and enjoy,” she said. Surf instructors help young surfers warm up before hitting the water. (Opposite, from top) Surf instructor Hannah Plant, left, leads a group of young surfers to the water during one of Ohana Surf & Skate’s summer camps; surf instructor Bella Breish, right, gives Evangeline Mendell a boost into a wave. “It’s a great way to stay active and challenge yourself at any age. Whether you’re 7 or 70, it’s something you can learn and enjoy.” ELYCIA COOLEY54 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 There’s no better way to become one with nature while on the water than going wade fishing. COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 55 HOOKED TO FISH OR NOT TO FISH? That is a silly question. Grab tackle and get out there story and photos by CAPT. NATE SKINNER I f you’re like me, you’ve spent many days on the water over the past few months. After getting after it for weeks on end, I often ask myself, “Why do I fish?” It’s a loaded question that takes some thought. What is it that drives my passion for pursuing with rod and reel creatures that lurk below the water’s surface? And why can I not get enough of it? The truth is, there are many reasons why most of us are enthralled with fishing. For a lot of folks, going fishing is a means to unwind and get away from the craziness of their everyday life. There’s something about leaving your troubles behind on the shore. The sound of the waves against the hull of the boat, the hum of an outboard motor and the salty sea breeze bring about an indescribable calmness. Then there’s catching fish. Regardless of what’s biting, a tug at the end of the line and a battle with any fish, big or small, is just plain fun. Most folks don’t care what they catch, they just want to get bit. It’s the action that keeps them coming back. Others, like myself, are obsessed with the challenge. Anglers like us are determined to figure out how the fish we pursue behave under a variety of conditions and scenarios. We prefer to fish with artificial lures, instead of natural baits, because knowing we were able to fool a fish with a hook-clad piece of plastic is extremely satisfying. Making lifelong memories is another reason many anglers love the sport. I can’t tell you how many fond memories I’ve stored away from fishing trips with my dad, brother and buddies. There’s a story for each them and not enough time in the world to tell half of them. Nowadays, I’m making memories on the water with my kids, and these are some of the best. Taking a child fishing is extremely rewarding for many reasons. The sport teaches them great core values like patience, 56 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 HOOKED responsibility and respect for nature and the environment. It also teaches kids how to overcome chal- lenges and face adversity, because conditions on the water are always changing. It also brings a whole new level of excite- ment. Kids are curious, and just about every little aspect of going fishing captures their attention. They don’t care what kind of fish is being caught, they just want to feel that tug on the end of their line. That, in itself, teaches us a valuable lesson of staying positive. There are no bad days when you take a kid fishing, some are just better than others. The opportunity to become one with nature is another reason many enjoy going fishing. There’s no better way to get in touch with your surroundings and what lies beneath the surface than by wade fishing. A lot of folks wonder why in the world someone would get out of a perfectly good bay boat to walk around in the water. I would challenge those people to give it a try. There’s something special about standing in the water where the fish live. You can feel subtle changes under your boots along the bay bottom, making you more in tune with what’s going on below the surface. This ultimately helps you understand more about the species you’re targeting. Talk about becoming one with nature — that’s what wade fishing is all about. Whatever your reason, an affinity for fish- ing is something many of us on the upper coast have in common. I’d argue the angling community includes some of the best people in the world, and most are willing to help others whenever a need arises. Why do we do it? Because we absolutely love it, as well as the resources that our beloved upper coast provides us. (From top) Taking a kid fishing is extremely reward- ing; catching fish — big or small — is just plain fun. I’d argue the angling community includes some of the best people in the world, and most are willing to help others whenever a need arises. COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 57 5 Bedroom/ 5 1/2 Bath Palisade Palms Signature Condo on 20th floor with FOUR Balconies Palisade Palms Unit TW2008 Exquisite 20th floor Signature One-of-a-kind Condo on Pristine East beach. • Resort amenities with all the space of a large beach house, and NO maintenance hassles. One-of-a-kind property! • Bring Your Family and Guests – 5 bdrm., 5 ½ bath, 3,772 sq. ft. • One of a Kind – Custom combination of two popular unit floorplans with 10 ft. ceilings. • Views, Views, Views – 4 Large Balconies offering Sunrise/Sunset and Beach/Bay views. • Entertainers Dream – 4 living areas, 2 kitchens, and a coffee bar. • Custom Throughout – The owner spared no expense with custom cabinets, counters, lighting, and storage. • Resort Living – Whether it’s beach time, pool time, tennis, pickle-ball, hitting the gym, or community social events, there’s always something to do. • Lock and Leave – With on-site maintenance team taking care of the property, just come and enjoy, with no worries when you aren’t here. Dawn Walther 713-870-6205 waltherdawn@yahoo.com58 COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 HOMEPORT ‘WE ARE STEWARDS’ Islanders ‘maintain, repair and respect’ century-old Broadway house story by BARBARA CANETTI | photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS I magine living next door to arguably one of the most popu- lar houses in the city. Certainly, there would be lots of foot traffic, but if your neighbor is the Bishop’s Palace, it’s likely your home would get lots of attention, too. Ajay Puthli and Greg Grant bought the 1916 Biehl home seven years ago, and although they redid some plumbing and electrical, the majority of the house still is in its original, pristine condition. The Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, designed by Anton F. Korn, is different from most Victorian houses in the area. But the brick and concrete structure was built to withstand deadly hurricanes and storms. The house was the home of German immigrant Carl Biehl and his wife, Hilda, who lived in the house until their deaths in 1936 and 1946 respectively. He was a successful owner of a shipping company. Their daughter Margaret “Sis” Biehl, a well-known Galveston artist, lived in the house until her death in 2008. A step onto the front porch takes visitors immediately back 100 years. The enclosed verandas — upstairs and downstairs — span the entire length of the house. Puthli and Grant use those porches frequently, especially when they gather for drinks or cigar smoking, they said. “We spend lots of time out here, especially in the winter,” Puthli said. “We painted it a light color so it feels summery.” From the porch, guests enter into a grand foyer, covered in walls of oak and a winding staircase to the second floor. Hidden into one of the walls is the Biehls’ secret Prohibition closet: A place to hide illegal adult beverages during the 1920s. It now houses a wine rack and a fresh supply of legal drinks. They didn’t do any remodeling of the house, just fixed things that needed repair and updated items that no longer worked, Grant said. All the light switches, with push buttons for on-off, have been restored and all the doors and windows are original. (Right) Greg Grant and Ajay Puthli’s 1916 Biehl home, with its Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, was designed by Anton F. Korn for German immigrant Carl Biehl and his wife, Hilda. The home features wide verandas, with the downstairs being enclosed. COASTMONTHLY.COM | AuguST 2025 59Next >