By Andrea Swayne
Azure Reef Trujillo, 8, is busy trying pack in as much surfing as possible before starting third grade at Concordia Elementary School. We caught up with him by phone while he was on a road trip, shortboarding all the great surf spots from San Clemente to Big Sur.
Azure started surfing at age 5 under the tutelage of family friends and now goes at least five times a week, most often at T Street. Azure likes everything about surfing, especially getting barreled.
“My first barrel was when I was 7,” he said. “I was at T Street. I made it out and was thinking, ‘Did that really happen?’ My friend told me it did and I was like, ‘Yay!’”
Azure is pleased that his name was inspired by the ocean.
“My mom and dad were in Puerto Rico when my mom was pregnant with me. They were swimming in the ocean and my grandma said she loved the azure color of the water and they were like, ‘Bing, bing, bing! That’s it.’ They were snorkeling at reef and that’s how I got my middle name.”
Azure has competed in a few local contests and is looking forward to the upcoming Stoke-o-Rama. “I need more work on my cutbacks before I start WSA or NSSA,” he said.
Surfers Azure looks up to include Hagan Johnson, Kelly Slater, the Gudauskas brothers and Derek Rabelo.
Azure’s goals include becoming a pro surfer, pro skater, a lifeguard and taking many really great surf trips. One of his dreams, to surf in Hawaii, is set to come true at spring break.
“It’s going to be fun. The water will be warm and I’ll get a lot of good experience,” he said. “One of my other goals was to be Grom of the Week. Now I am and it feels good.”
Discussion about this post