Link to LaxMagazine.com Article

BALTIMORE, Md. (7/15/2015) -- In Florida, surfing is a way of life for no small portion of the populace. As one of the fastest-growing regions in the sport, lacrosse is becoming the same. 

For Julie Castner, combining the two has exploded her onto the scene in a big way. Her Vine video of stick tricks while riding a wave has been viewed nearly 300,000 times since posting Sunday evening, and she's also picked up more than 800 retweets and nearly 600 Instagram comments from a large swath of the lacrosse world. More on that later.

Castner is a rising junior midfielder at the University of Detroit Mercy, starting 13 games this spring and scoring 16 goals with a pair of assists. She also had 21 draw controls, good for third on the Titans. An Orlando native, she was a honorable mention US Lacrosse All-American in high school and earned the Jackie Pitts Award from the Orlando Chapter of US Lacrosse in 2013.

We caught up with Julie on Monday about her newfound fame.



So, stick tricks on a surf board. How did that idea come about?
I just thought of it during the season. We had a long bus trip and I couldn't fall asleep, so I was daydreaming about summer... I was thinking about surfing and thought it would be fun to try doing some tricks on a board.

I've always been into doing stick tricks, and that one [in the video] is kind of my signature one, so I figured why not give it a try.

Are you surprised by how much it has blown up?
Oh yeah, I didn't expect it to go anywhere. I was just having some fun. Now it has just exploded, and I'm kind of in shock about it.

Any particular aspect of it that's taken you by surprise?
Besides it blowing up, the fact that [Loyola head coach, Tewaaraton winner and All-World honoree for Australia] Jen Adams commented on it - she's such an amazing player and I grew up watching her do stick tricks herself. When she commented, it was very exciting!

Which came first for you, lacrosse or surfing?
Actually they came about the same time, probably. I started lacrosse in fifth grade, and I started getting serious about surfing maybe in sixth or seventh grade.

Favorite between the two?
Lacrosse is my favorite, definitely. There's not much surfing in Detroit.

How does a girl from Florida wind up playing lacrosse in Michigan?
They reached out to me after a tournament I had played in, and they have a five-year PA (Physicians Assistant) program at the school that really interested me. I looked into that, and the coaches were supportive of me playing and being in that program, so it just turned out to be a great fit.

How has the transition to the upper midwest been?
Oh, I definitely had to get a whole new wardrobe. I didn't have anything heavier than a sweatshirt before moving there. I don't love the cold, but I love the school and being up there, so it's easy to deal with.

You've made a pretty big splash with this video. Any plans to try and top it?
Oh, I've gotta start coming up with some new tricks to try when I go to the beach. I've got a lot of new followers after this weekend!
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Check out a few other links highlighting Julie's video: 
Julie's Instagram Video
Sports Illustrated Hot Clicks for July 15
All Lacrosse Michigan Interview
US Lacrosse's Tweet
Toronto Sun
Next Impluse Sports