NSSA Season Underway, Three Local Surfers Win at Opener

Three San Clemente surfers earn five first-place trophies at National Scholastic Surfing Association Explorer opening doubleheader

By Andrea Swayne

The end of summer marks the beginning of the amateur contest tours and for three local surfers, the new National Scholastic Surfing Association Explorer season marked their first victories of the new year.

The NSSA Explorer season kicked off with a doubleheader in San Diego at Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier on Aug. 22 and 23 in 1- to 3-foot surf.

Taj Lindblad of San Clemente made the most of the back-to-back events posting double wins in the Menehune division. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, also took home two first-place trophies, in Women on Saturday and Girls on Sunday. A third San Clemente surfer, Max Beach, took top honors in Boys division competition in event No. 1, his first ever NSSA win.

“The season opener was awesome—lots of new and familiar faces,” said Janice Aragon, NSSA executive director.  “The kids were all pumped to get the contest jersey back on after the summer break. The level of surfing was extremely high, especially because of the smallish challenging conditions, but the kids need to learn how to deal with anything Mother Nature throws at them, and they did. We even saw a perfect heat score of 20 out of 20 posted by Jordy Collins (Oceanside)—a great sign that it’s going to be an exciting season!”

Up next, NSSA Explorer events No. 3 and 4 are set for Sept. 26 and 27 at the Huntington Beach Pier.

RESULTS

NSSA Explorer, Events No. 1, August 22, Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier

JUNIORS:

1. Kairi Noro, Japan
2. Jordy Collins, Carlsbad
3. Gavin Doan, Oceanside
4. Eno James, Sayulita, Mexico

BOYS:

1. Max Beach, San Clemente
2. London Almida, Hanalei, Hawaii
3. Keanu Igarashi, Huntington Beach
4. Zach McCormick, Del Mar
5. Sam Nelsen, Laguna Beach
6. Keeler Nelsen, Laguna Beach

MENEHUNE:

1. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente
2. Cole McCaffray, Cardiff
3. Joey Samuelian, Manhattan Beach
4. Sam Reidy, Los Angeles
5. Connor Marshall, Encinitas
6. Ryder Salberg, San Clemente

SUPER GROMS:

1. Hayden Rodgers, Laguna Beach
2. Cole McCaffray, Cardiff
3. Makai Bray, San Clemente
4. Finn Bertino, Hermosa Beach
5. Wheeler Hasburgh, Sayulita, Mexico
6. Ty Spencer, Carlsbad

WOMEN:

1. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente
2. Samantha Cendro, Huntington Beach
3. Brooke Young, San Diego
4. Brooke Daigneault, Huntington Beach
5. Sidney Johnson, Carlsbad
6. Elizabeth Lutz, Malibu

GIRLS:

1. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente
2. Rachel Presti, Melbourne Beach, Florida
3. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad
4. Olivia Pessanha, San Diego
5. Brooke Young, San Diego
6. Ella McCaffray, Cardiff

SUPER GIRLS:

1. Ella McCaffray, Cardiff
2. Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente
3. Hannah Dunfee, El Cajon
4. Jenna Clark, La Mesa

SUPER SENIORS:

1. Darren Collins, Carlsbad
2. Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach
3. Pat Pezzoli, Leucadia
4. Larry Schlick, Long Beach

DUKE:

1. Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach
2. Rusty Wink, Mission Viejo
3. Patrick Schlick, Leucadia

NSSA Explorer, Event No. 2, August 23, Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier

JUNIORS:

1. Jordy Collins, Carlsbad
2. Liam Gloyd, Carlsbad
3. Gavin Doan, Oceanside
4. London Almida, Hanalei, Hawaii

BOYS:

1. Zach McCormick, Del Mar
2. Nolan Rodgers, Laguna Beach
3. London Almida, Hanalei, Hawaii
4. Max Beach, San Clemente
5. Keeler Nelsen, Laguna Beach
6. Liam Murray, San Clemente

MENEHUNE:

1. Taj Lindblad, San Clemente
2. Hayden Rodgers, Laguna Beach
3. Cole McCaffray, Cardiff
4. Sam Reidy, Los Angeles
5. William Tex,
6. Joey Samuelian, Manhattan Beach

SUPER GROMS:

1. Hayden Rodgers, Laguna Beach
2. Makai Bray, San Clemente
3. Cole McCaffray, Cardiff
4. Wheeler Hasburgh, Sayulita, Mexico
5. Ben Brantell, San Clemente
6. Finn Bertino, Hermosa Beach

WOMEN:

1. Rachel Presti, Melbourne Beach, Florida
2. Brooke Young, San Diego
3. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente
4. Brooke Daigneault, Huntington Beach
5. Samantha Cendro, Huntington Beach
6. Sidney Johnson, Carlsbad

GIRLS:

1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad
2. Rachel Presti, Melbourne Beach, Florida
3. Brooke Young, San Diego
4. Samantha Sibley, San Clemente
5. Ella McCaffray, Cardiff
6. Olivia Pessanha, San Diego

SUPER GIRLS:

1. Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad
2. Ella McCaffray, Cardiff
3. Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente
4. Hannah Dunfee, El Cajon
5. Bella Kenworthy, Dana Point
6. Jenna Clark, La Mesa

SUPER SENIORS:

1. Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach
2. Darren Collins, Carlsbad
3. Pat Pezzoli, Leucadia
4. Larry Schlick, Long Beach

DUKE:

1. Patrick Schlick, Leucadia
2. Rick Fignetti, Huntington Beach
3. Rusty Wink, Mission Viejo
4. Jim Ferguson, Santa Rosa

LONGBOARD:

1. Jovan Smith Scott, Huntington Beach
2. Larry Schlick, Long Beach

KNEEBOARD:

1. Sean Noone, Alisa Viejo
2. Chris Bermudez, Oxnard