MOSCOW, Idaho – Summer is a great opportunity for Idaho student-athletes to relax and unwind ahead of another grueling year of academics and competition.  In fact, Idaho women's soccer newcomer Bridget Daley spends most of her down time at the beach.  But it isn't the picture-perfect idea of relaxing that most would have.
 
"I actually work at a surf camp, so I'm a surf instructor also," Daley said.  "And this summer I'm lucky enough to play soccer too, so I'll be teaching surfing in the mornings, then in the afternoons I'll go to soccer practice and on the weekends I'll play games."
 
Sounds relaxing, right?
 
Daley got started on a board when she was in elementary school, picking up the sport from her father.
 
"My dad's a big surfer.  When I was in fourth grade he got me my first board.  And he didn't start me out on a big, foam Costco board like everyone else starts on, he got me a standard board and brought me out with him.  He made me start as hard as you can go."
 
And it worked.  Of course being in a surfing family certainly helped, but she embraced the sport for its differences from the norm.
 
"At first I was super frustrated with it, but then it got easier.  And all my friends at school surfed.  And I stole my brother's friends too.  There weren't many girls around me that surfed, that I knew, so I surfed with all the guys.  In high school, one of my guy friends got me to join the surf team.  But my surf friends had to accept that I picked soccer first, so I would only make it to some competitions, if there wasn't soccer that weekend."
 
Excelling in multiple sports is rare, but it happens.  But surfing and soccer?  There really aren't too many connections.
 
"I look totally different than surfers.  Surfing is a lot of upper body, so that's why people don't think I look like a surfer too much.  I've always been in the water, it just kind of came naturally.  As far as building for surfing, I never did that.  I just kind of build for soccer and the athleticism just transfers over."
 
And there's one thing that surfing has taught Daley that she carries over to the pitch.
 
"The only thing that I think actually transfers from surfing to soccer is the breathing.  You have to learn to hold your breath and steady your breathing when you're in the water, and I kind of use that in soccer.  Sometimes when I'm playing I'll stop breathing for a second, but I'll just restart, breathe slow and come down."
 
Back to relaxing, how does Daley have time for all this over such a short summer break?
 
"I don't really sleep, ever."
 
Daley and the Vandals get fall camp started in early August, with the first exhibition taking place in the Dome on August 13.  Idaho opens the Kibbie Dome officially on August 25, when in-state rival Boise State makes its way to Moscow for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho soccer by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsSoccer, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Women's Soccer.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.