By Andrea Swayne
Age: 13, Shorecliffs Middle School
Max Beach’s seventh grade year will also be his first on the school surf team.
Already a competitor in the Western Surfing Association Championship Tour and the Volcom Qualifying Series, Max is looking forward to representing his school in the Scholastic Surf Series.
His practice schedule includes surfing every day, skateboarding and training at DSC.
“I like to train to stay fit and ready for competition,” he said, adding that he is doing it all in hopes of someday qualifying for the World Tour.
Max takes his school work seriously as well and is a straight ‘A’ student with plans to attend college.
“If I make it on the tour I’ll do it online,” he said. “If I don’t, I’ll probably go to a traditional college.”
He found his love for shortboarding when introduced to it by his dad.
“My dad is a surfer and I kind of just followed in this footsteps,” Max said. “I learned from him but I’ve also known the Gudauskas brothers for a long time and I think watching them has really helped me progress.”
Family and community support also include some sponsorship.
“I’d like to thank my sponsors Depactus, Nixon, Dreaded Deck, Mizu, Mayhem, JS Surfboards, Laguna Surf and Sport and my parents, of course,” he said.
Surf travel is another passion Max hopes will continue throughout his surf career. His most recent trip took him to Tavarua Island in Fiji.
“It was amazing,” he said. “My favorite thing about it was the waves and the people there are really kind.”
He would like to go to Western Australia next.
“I’m a goofy foot and there are a lot of lefts there. Also, I know Ry Craike and he’s always wanted us to stay at his house,” Max said. “I think we might go sometime after Christmas. That would be the best trip ever.”
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