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Opposite page, from left Lon, London, Luke and Lincoln Paulson walk
Wrightsville’s south end shoreline. Above: Dylan, Tom and Erik Paulson wet their
boards at Wrightsville’s south end beach near the Crystal Pier.
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
Catching waves with
the Paulsons
While some families
spend thousands of dollars
every year on therapy, trying
to figure out a way to get
closer to their children and relatives, for
the Paulson family, the solution is simple—
load up together and go surfing.
After receiving his graduate degree from
North Carolina State University, Lon
Paulson took a job at the General Electric
Nuclear Plant in Castle Hayne.
Being so close to the water, and with
the growing desires of his oldest son,
London, 17, the two Paulsons took their
first surf lessons together. Since then, Lon
and London have extended their passion
for surfing to the youngest boys, Luke, 16,
and Lincoln, 13.
For Lon, there is nothing better than
being able to enjoy his hobby with his
sons.
“It’s a great way to spend time with
your family,” Lon says. “It doesn’t matter
if I have one boy with me, two, or all
three, we always enjoy getting out in the
water.”
Lon says he clearly remembers buying
his first surfboard, an old 8-foot, retrostyle
Sweetwater board, from a yard sale.
While many 17-year-olds are doing
everything they can to stay away from
their parents, London appreciates the time
that he is able to spend with his father.
“I cherish being able to surf with my
dad,” London says. “Most guys only talk to
their dads at the dinner table about homework
and school. I’m lucky enough to do
something out of the ordinary and active
that we can both enjoy together.”
Lon did not stop at bringing his immediate
family into the surfing world. He also
introduced his cousin Tom to the sport.
Tom Pauslon, a pediatrician in the critical
care unit of New Hanover Regional
Medical Center, learned from Lon how
therapeutic surfing can be for the self, and
how well it can bring a family together.
“When you do such detail-oriented work,
you can lose the beauty of nature,” Tom
said. “We both have that kind of yearning
to get away and let our minds let go.”
Both of the eldest Paulsons believe
that the spiritual aspect that surfers often
describe helps clear their mind after long
days at work.
As Tom was learning to surf, he encouraged
his sons to do the same. His sons Erik,
14, and Dylan, 13, have both taken up the
sport with their father.
“It’s a common bond we have,” Tom
says. “Especially as the boys get older, I
don’t want our relationship to split, but
because of surfing it will continue to grow.”
Erik, like his cousin London, enjoys
that he gets to participate in a hobby with
his family, and admits that having a little
brother helps him stay focused on improving
his skills.