MELBOURNE - If you happen to see a group of short-haired boys skate boarding, it might be the kids from Florida Air Academy, a private military and college preparatory school in Melbourne.

The students are there for the summer taking at least one academic credit and enjoying other, more enjoyable activities. This year, school officials added a skateboarding and surfing team.

"More and more high schools are starting to recognize and move towards the more individualized extreme sports" said the academy's admissions officer and surfing and skateboarding instructor Eric Bentti. "No other private military academy offers this and with our location we are at an advantage where we can offer (the students) the chance to surf or skateboard five times a week."

Bentti, an avid surfer himself, also skateboards with the students and is working to prepare them to be competitive. He hopes to get them to a level where they can compete in area surf and skateboarding competitions.

There also is some talk about the possibility of building a small skate park at the school, where students can get in some practice time in between the trips off campus. For now, students often practice at Graffiti Skate Park in Palm Bay.

FAA students said the surfing and skateboarding helps keep them in shape and in good spirits for the rigorous academic schedule they must maintain. Students attend classes until 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and are required to study for an additional two hours Sunday through Thursday. "The skating keeps me sane." said J.T. Conlin, 16, who is trying out the academy for the first time this summer.