OCC OCE AN S POR T S
“We are both quite grateful for the wahi pana [celebrated place] that OCC is, and for all of the opportunities that we have both been able to enjoy in pursuing multiple disciplines of ocean sports at the Club,” says Pratt, a 30-year member who transitioned into Club Captain at the beginning of this year. The Club Captain role has evolved over the years, perhaps most significantly in the last five or so. From 1908 through 2016, the athletic programwas under the direct supervision of a Club Captain, who was either elected to the position (until 1932) or appointed by the Board of Directors, but due to the Club’s expanded athletics program, in 2016, the Athletic Director position was created. Since then, Ath- letic Director Shannon Pelkey has brought energy, organi- zation, fiscal responsibility and planning to invigorate the Athletic Committee and develop a wide variety of improve- ments and changes to Club policies and athletic programs. Though Pelkey’s not at it alone: “I am so grateful for the Club Captain, this person works as the liaison betweenmembers and operations, and is key for the operations side to suc- ceed,” she believes. From2017-2018, former Club Captain Dolan Eversole worked with Pelkey to develop the new role, and helped create its current job description. By 2019, Eversole was ready to pass the torch to Brendan Bradley, who became the youngest Club Captain in the OCC’s history. Bradley has been a member since he was 10 years old, and his passion for passing down the Club’s traditions to the next genera- tion was immediately evident at the Athletic Banquet that introduced him, and still is today. Though he served as Chair of the Surf Committee prior to becoming Club Captain, he went into his new role asking himself new questions: how can he best utilize what OCC already had to become better? How can he share what we know of this place to ensure that what is core to us is taken care of ?
Navigating the changing tide: One of Pratt's goals is to provide a greater depth of ocean knowledge to all OCC members.
Many roles within the Club Athletics were in transition when Bradley joined as Club Captain, including the Athletic Director position. Both positions were being redefined as Bradley and Pelkey took themon, but they worked close- ly together to navigate the gray areas and fulfill the high expectations for their respective positions. The pair's ability to work together gave Pelkey the chance to get her bearings in her new role while Bradley filled in the gaps, focusing on new programs and exploring opportunities that are still in effect today. “Between her strengths andmine, we struck a good balance, and that is something I amquite proud of,” said Bradley. Then he—and the rest of the world—was faced with an exceptional challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Bradley managed to inspire new and existing members, and reinvigorate the Club’s traditions. In 2020, for example, there were big plans for the Ath- letic Banquet, which would take place in November of that year and honor the Athlete of the Year. Then onMarch 23, everything shut down. The Club reopened in early June, but
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