BUILT FOR THIS

By Brandon Petersen

There's a certain sound to a wave detonating behind you — a low, rushing growl that builds in your spine before exploding in white chaos. Titus Kaimana Santucci doesn't flinch at that sound. He's built for it.

And now, he's headed to Westcliff University, the rising giant of collegiate surf, to do what he's always done: lead, win, and make history.

But for the 18-year-old Filipino-American phenom from Encinitas, this move is bigger than college. It's legacy.

Before the medals. Before the national headlines. Before the Netflix cameras rolled in the Philippines — Santucci was just another grom chasing sets at Beacons and Swamis, shadowing older kids and refusing to get out of the water.

Except he didn't stay "just another" for long.

By 2023, he had already made history as the first Filipino-American male to ever qualify for the USA Junior National Surf Team. Months later, he and Team USA brought home silver from the ISA World Juniors in Rio, the proving grounds for Olympic hopefuls.

He wasn't just catching waves — he was carving himself into the story of American surfing.

Back home, the buzz got louder when he led San Dieguito Academy's Varsity Surf Team to its first NSSA National Championship in 17 years.

The final was a nail-biter. A two-on-two heat against reigning powerhouse San Clemente High. With the title on the line, Santucci unleashed a closeout hammer that earned him an excellent score and a place in Encinitas surf lore.

"He's our hero," one coach told the Encinitas Advocate. "That wave will be talked about for years."

The win put his name in every local paper, every regional surf mag, and gave his proud Filipino family something they'd only dreamed of: a moment of cultural pride, sealed in saltwater.

So why Westcliff? Why now?

Because this isn't a detour. This is the next step in a plan that's always been bigger than just waves.

"It's huge for our program," said Head Coach Lucas Taub, who's quietly built Westcliff into a national powerhouse. "Santucci is already a leader. He's on the QS, he's got the experience, the fire, the work ethic. We're building around him."

For Santucci, the decision came down to two things: freedom and respect.

Westcliff offers academic flexibility, letting him stay on the World Tour path without sacrificing school. Just as important? They offer real scholarships for surfers — putting surfing on the same plane as basketball and football.

"It meant a lot to him," said Taub. "He saw we take this seriously. That we take him seriously."

He'd originally committed to Mira Costa. But when Westcliff came calling — with a chance to surf alongside old friend Jordy Collins — the move felt destined.

Santucci's ascent isn't just about scores and medals. For many, he represents something deeper.

A Filipino-American kid with a 4.3 GPA, scholarship offers, and a Netflix feature set to air in August, he's a cultural beacon in a sport that's long struggled with representation.

His upcoming episode of 1 in 7K, filmed in the Philippines, follows him as he reconnects with his ancestral homeland and rides the country's most iconic breaks. It's a love letter to his heritage — and a glimpse into what he brings to every lineup: pride, presence, and possibility.

His fanbase in the Philippines? Rabid. His following? Growing. His presence? Different.

He won't be alone at Westcliff. Jordy Collins, the Tamarack Takeover co-founder and NSSA state champ, was instrumental in bringing Santucci in. They're old friends, now teammates, and expected to feed off each other like steel on flint.

And on the women's side, Westcliff boasts Taylor Stacy — the 2025 NSSA National Champion — forming a program that's no longer a secret. It's a full-on storm front.

Santucci isn't riding a wave. He's helping build the reef beneath it.

"We lost some big seniors," said Coach Taub. "But this? This is a rebuild. And we're rebuilding stronger than ever."

His expectations?

"State and national titles. That's what we're coming for."

And Santucci? He's already locked in. He's been here before — on podiums, in pressure, under lights. He knows what this next chapter demands.

There's something about Santucci that makes you watch longer. His lines are clean, but there's rawness in his turns. His finishes are violent, but controlled. His smile says "happy to be here," but his posture says "I belong."

The accolades are stacked. The sponsors are lined up. The Netflix trailer is queued. But underneath it all, it's still the same kid from Encinitas — salt in his ears, dreams in his chest, and one more wave always waiting.

Westcliff didn't just land a star. They landed a story in motion.

And Santucci?

He's just getting started.