Season Preview: Surf is Experienced, Eyes a 'Natty'

By Francisco Claudio

 

After two successful campaigns in the NSSA, the Westcliff surf team who is the No. 3 team in the country, has their eyes on that national title.

 

And why wouldn't they?

 

The Warriors just finished a strong season in which they won their first-ever NSSA California state championship and had a good run at the 2023 NSSA Nationals.

 

And to make things better, all but one member will be coming back.

 

"With everyone returning from last year's team minus one who graduated, Robbie Crist, the team dynamic hasn't changed which is a good thing," said head coach Kyle Rouse. "The 'crew' that we have definitely knows what it takes to win and the goal is still set on a national championship and hopefully repeating as state champions.

"We also feel that the new "format" for the NSSA college division could be a good change for our team dynamic so we'll see what happens after this first contest."

It will be great to see familiar faces at the events. However, although this team is close, they are also highly competitive as individuals.

 

Those who had lots of success last year will want to continue that path but there will also be others wanting to prove themselves with another shot.

 

"We consistently had surfers in the finals of each contest last year and with our experience, we're looking to do that again," Rouse said. "We've also added another solid longboard surfer in Jacob Hardy this year so we're excited to see what he can bring as well."

With two solid years competing in the NSSA the Warriors are no longer the rookies and know what is expected and what it will take to be the last one standings come May of next year.

"It's crazy that it's already been two full seasons in the NSSA competing, and the results have been very good," Rouse said. "We definitely haven't been surprised at our results because we know how talented we are as a group, it just happened so quickly. 

 

"The goal this season is to just keep fine-tuning our contest surfing and stay consistent all the way through from top to bottom of the roster. We realize how important each member of the team is in each contest with the way heats and contests are scored so this season really has an emphasis on that."

 

Warriors fans won't want to miss out on the events because there won't be many leading up to the state competition and nationals.

 

The first event will take place October 28th-29th at Black's Beach in San Diego.

 

The second event will be three months later on January 27th-28th at Huntington Beach.

 

The third event will be February 3rd-4th at The Lane in Santa Cruz.

 

The NSSA State Competition will take place March 1st-3rd and it will conclude with the NSSA Nationals on June 14th-16th at Salt Creek in Dana Point, California.

 

"The schedule is definitely unlike any other sport with gaps in between," Rouse said. "Fortunately, our location and us being close to all the championship breaks with Huntington and Salt Creek, we spend a lot of time there leading up to those contests. 

 

"Our surfers also do a great job staying in the water and consistently surfing which helps when we don't have contests consistently on the schedule."

 

As the Warriors prepare to compete this weekend you can sense the confidence and motivation that drives them.

 

One look at the championship rings they received for state and you can tell that they are not satisfied with just one ring.

 

"Winning a ring for the state title was awesome and I think our team really got a feel of what it's like," Rouse said. "Not only that they also know there is more in the tank as a group so we as a team know that we can not only do it again but make another run for a national title. 

"We have 'been there' and know what we have to do to get it."