Surf Nation is comprised of like-minded coaches and administrators dedicated to our Surf mission to provide the best experiences and opportunities for their athletes. Since 2019, El Paso Surf has been a proud partner of Surf Nation, and we have thoroughly enjoyed the partnership. We have watched their amazing club grow and seen them take full advantage of being under the Surf brand.
We sat down with El Paso Surf’s Melissa Lopez to learn more about how Surf has helped their club, players, coaches, and administrators and their upcoming season goals:
What is the biggest value for El Paso Surf being part of the Surf Nation Community?
The biggest value for El Paso Surf being part of the Surf Nation is the access to top-level resources, national exposure, and pathways for players to collegiate opportunities via the Surf Select Program. Being part of Surf elevates our competitive standards, connects us to a prestigious network, and strengthens our ability to attract talent and community support, positioning our club nationally.
As we have now started the 24/25 season, what are some of the KPI’s you have set for the Club this year?
For the 24/25 season, we have established several key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the club’s progress:
- Player Development: Increasing the number of players who receive opportunities in the Surf Select program and other elite showcases.
- Competitive Success: Achieving a minimum target of reaching the Nation Finals in DPL, ranking amongst the top 3 in our WPSL conference, and winning our UPSL conference in the spring.
- Community Engagement: Hosting successful home game events that attract large crowds and support, highlighting El Paso as a soccer hub.
- Expansion of Programs: Both girls’ and boys’ programs will be expanded, ensuring each team is competitive in their respective leagues.
- Player Advancement: Helping a set percentage of players commit to collegiate programs or other higher-level opportunities.
You recently entered the DPL. What does this mean to the players and families within El Paso Surf, the community, and your experience to date?
Joining the DPL is a major step for the club and offers our players and families a level of competition that wasn’t previously available in El Paso. It provides a clear path to national exposure and showcases for college recruiters. For the players, it means facing elite competition that will push their development to the next level. For the families, it represents a significant opportunity to see their children play on bigger stages with scouts and coaches in attendance. For the community, it solidifies El Paso’s status as a competitive soccer market, increasing local support and bringing visibility to our talent. So far, our experience has been extremely positive, with our 2007 girls’ team already reaching the DPL National Finals last season.
The Club has also been participating in WPSL. Please share what this means to the community and the opportunities you are creating.
Our participation in the WPSL gives our female athletes a pathway to compete at the highest amateur level in women’s soccer. It provides young players with role models to look up to, strengthens the soccer culture in El Paso, and fosters a connection between youth and senior teams. The WPSL also allows college players to maintain their sharpness during the summer and for our top youth players to train alongside experienced athletes. This platform creates real opportunities for our players to develop their skills, attract attention from higher-level teams, and potentially pursue professional careers.
The Girl’s program is moving in a great direction; what is the plan to replicate this on the Boy’s side?
We’ve seen tremendous success with our girls’ program, and the plan for the boys is to implement a similar strategy. We are focusing on building strong relationships with top-tier leagues such as the ENCL and UPSL Academy to provide our boys with the same competitive opportunities. Our boys’ teams will also benefit from increased access to Surf Select events and national showcases, exposing them to high-level scouts. Additionally, we are enhancing our coaching staff on the boys’ side and providing more opportunities for them to compete in top regional and national tournaments to develop their skills faster!
Please share any additional projects, stories you think are valuable to share across the Surf Nation community as we delve further into the life of El Paso Surf?
One of our most exciting projects is developing a dedicated training facility on 5 acres of land exclusively for El Paso Surf. This facility will be the home for our players to train, refine their skills, and develop in an environment built specifically for their growth. The creation of this training center marks a major milestone for the club, as it ensures our players have top-quality resources to help them compete at the highest levels.
In addition to our field development, we continue strengthening community partnerships, such as our collaboration with Paso Del Norte Soccer League for the El Paso Surf DPL teams. These partnerships enhance the club’s connection to local businesses and foster a sense of community pride. With our new facility and these strategic partnerships, we are building a strong foundation for the future of soccer in El Paso, ensuring that our players have the best opportunities to succeed both on and off the field.
Learn more about El Paso Surf at https://www.elpasosurf.org/
