Ranch teens surf slough

With the first day of summer on Friday and the mercury already climbing above 90 degrees, a handful of Carson Valley teenagers have found a way to beat the heat.

Thanks to a little agricultural ingenuity, Carson Valley teenagers Nick Nalder, Jeff White, Kaleb Wartgow, Jonathan Lawrence, James Lawrence, Katie Hellwinkel and Jacob Wartgow have been surfing on the White Ranch Dairy off Highway 88.

All it takes is a knee board, rope, a quad and the willingness to get towed down the slough.

"Cars stop along the highway to watch us," said James Lawrence, 17, and grandson of the Valley photographer of the same name. "We started about three years ago."

James can't say exactly where the idea came from.

"It was hot and the ditch was full," he said. "We used to float down it, but now we all take turns riding the board."

The slough is located on the Big Tree Field.

"We've always gathered in that field," said James' mother Brenda. "Steve and Linda (White) got married there. We have a camp-out there and hold Burning Woman on Labor Day."