Young SoCal athletes dominate USA Surfing championships
Several Orange County surfers and a few South Bay standouts put on stellar performances at the USA Surfing junior championships, with several locals riding away with national titles at Lower Trestles.
The finals on Saturday on the cobblestone beach just south of San Clemente brought out the country's top young surfing talent to compete at one of the world's best surf breaks.
Sawyer Lindblad of San Clemente took home the girl's Under 18 title. Hawaii's Kai Martin nabbed the boys Under 18 win in a final that included Manhattan Beach's Kai Kushner.
The under 12 division saw San Clemente's Zion Walla take top spot on the boy's side and Teagan Mesa of Torrance earned the girl's title.
San Juan Capistrano's Lucas Senkbeil-Cassity dominated both the Under 14 and Under 16 to earn titles in both divisions. The girl's Under 14 went to San Clemente's Mia McLeish and Under 16 was won by Talia Swindal of Malibu, overtaking San Clemente stand-out Bella Kenworthy, who took the second spot.
The event had a brief fog delay, but Lower Trestles “delivered in brilliant SoCal surf fashion, with pumping surf and some of the best performances we've seen maybe ever at the USA Champs,” USA Surfing coach Ryan Simmons said in a statement. “What an amazing week for junior surfing.”
“This event, as always, showcases the stellar talent being developed among our country's rising stars. But equally impressive is seeing our young athletes enjoying their time together, camaraderie and sportsmanship,” USA Surfing COO and contest director Andrea
Swayne said in a statement. “To see one's competitors chair them up the beach to celebrate their win is a thing of true beauty. We are so proud of all our athletes, win or lose, and it's a true pleasure to provide opportunities for them to shine.”
The surf action isn't over, with the National Scholastic Surfing Association National Open Championships at the Huntington Beach Pier starting today and running through Sunday.