If you thought surfing could only happen in Hawaii, think again.

Miles away from any beach, a newly recognized club is giving Penn State students the opportunity to enjoy the sport here in Pennsylvania.

Known simply as the Surf Club, this organization aims to bring together those who share the common interest and give die-hard surfers the chance to do what they love. Surf Club president and founder Kris Shinn (junior-landscape contracting) said his reasons for starting the club are simple.

"There are a lot of kids who surf, and I figured it's a good way to meet people who are interested in the same sport," he said. "We're just a group of surfheads trying to go surfing."

Even though the club has only met a few times, Shinn said he is already planning events for group members.

"I want to plan intercollegiate surf events, like beach cleanups with other colleges, free surfs to get to know other colleges and competitions," he said. "We are big on the whole trip thing. We are going to try to go on at least two small trips and one big one."

Other plans for the club include social events, such as a surf luau and events with Penn State's snowboarding and longboarding clubs.

"A lot of times, a lot of people who are into surfing are also into skating and snowboarding," Shinn said.

The club is also working on making a Web site where members can use an online forum to plan surf trips and has plans to get shirts and sweatshirts printed with a unique club logo. According to club members, the nearest beach is in northern New Jersey, which is a four-hour drive from Penn State. The surfers also plan to travel even farther, to New York, North Carolina and possibly even Puerto Rico, for their surf trips.

"If you are a surfer, you will make that trip for waves," Shinn said. "It's no big deal. The four hours really doesn't matter if there is a big swell."

Other group members share the same sentiment. Dave Young (freshman-meteorology) said surfing is unlike any other sport.

"It feels like you're flying," he said. "It's a rush."

Ryan Curtin (junior-English) agreed and said he has been enjoying the sport for 11 years.

"I got a surfboard right before my 10th birthday," he said. "My family has a house by the beach, and I was there all the time. It's a very pure sport. It's more of a lifestyle that has become more of an obsession."

For some students, such as William Emanuelli (junior-civil engineering), being far from beaches is not easy.

"I want to go to the ocean once in a while because I'm here stuck in Pennsylvania," he said. "I don't want to get rusty."

Although surfing is a driving factor for joining the club, most members said they hope to meet people.

"I thought it would be cool to meet other people who like to surf and meet people from Penn State who like the beach," said Keith Fischer (freshman-meteorology). "I hope they try to help me out and tell me what I am doing wrong. Surfing is probably one of the most difficult things to do."

Despite the difficulty of the sport, Shinn urges anyone who is interested in surfing to join the club, emphasizing all skill levels are welcome.

"You don't have to know how to surf to join," he said. "If you are interested in the sport, come out."

Young agreed, urging students to give surfing a try.

"Everybody should try it because it's the best thing in the world," he said.