VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office Surf Team will return to the waves on Friday, June 26, continuing a unique employee wellness initiative that combines physical activity, mental wellness, and camaraderie in the ocean waters off Virginia Beach.
What started as an idea to bring employees together outside the workplace quickly grew into one of the VBSO’s most popular wellness activities. During the team's inaugural season in 2025, staff gathered at Croatan Beach to learn new skills and enjoy time together away from the job’s daily demands.
"When the VBSO Surf Team had its inaugural launch last year, it immediately became about much more than surfing," said Chief Deputy Alvie "Cool" Culanding. "We had a great time hanging out, cutting up in the surf, and then continuing the camaraderie afterward at a local coffee shop. It was a chance to connect in a completely different environment. We realized we had to continue."
Led by Culanding, Capt. Nick Curtis and other members of the agency's leadership team, the surf team embraces participants of all skill levels. Some members arrived with years of surfing experience, while others had spent little time on a board. The common denominator was a willingness to challenge themselves, support one another, and enjoy Virginia Beach's most iconic natural resource, the ocean.
The program reflects the Sheriff's Office's ongoing commitment to employee wellness. Working in corrections and public safety can be stressful, making opportunities to decompress, exercise, and build relationships especially important. Surfing offers participants a chance to unplug, focus on the moment, and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of being in the water.
The success of the inaugural season is now commemorated by a custom VBSO surfboard displayed in the Sheriff's Office command area, serving as a reminder of the friendships, teamwork, and positive energy the program has generated (photo attached).
The VBSO Surf Team will once again meet at Croatan Beach throughout the summer on Fridays at 7 a.m., except July 3rd, and only if surf conditions permit.
Media contact: Public Information Officer Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net , 757-385-8446 or 757-373-5012.