BLAZIN'

By Brandon Petersen

The 2025–26 NSSA season fired to life Saturday beneath the towering cliffs of Black's Beach, and it felt like the universe had been holding its breath. The sets came in heavy, sunlight scattered like diamonds off the Pacific once the layer burned through and the Westcliff Warriors paddled out with something to prove — not just to Point Loma or UC San Diego, but to themselves.

It was the first real test of a new era. The lineup looked different — fresh faces, clean boards, an undercurrent of curiosity about how this new group would click — but by the end of the day, there was no doubt. The Warriors are still for real.

A Morning Reminder from the Reigning Powers

Day 1 opened with a pulse-check from the heavy hitters. Point Loma's David O'Keefe came out swinging in Heat 1, posting a 14 and reminding everyone why the Sea Lions have owned more banners than anyone in collegiate surfing. But Westcliff's crew didn't blink. They've beaten these teams before — UCSD, SDSU, even Point Loma — and they came to San Diego looking like they still expect to.

Old Friends, New Jerseys

One heat later, the beach saw a familiar face. Former Warrior Eduardo Van Zeller, now repping UC San Diego, dropped a 12.50 to win his first heat of the season. There were no hard feelings — just fist bumps and grins. Eddie's one of the good ones, you couldn't dislike him if you tried. 

Jordy Being Jordy

Then came Jordy Collins, Westcliff's soul-surfer-supernova and one of the sport's purest technicians and gutsiest acrobatics. The senior's Heat 5 performance was all precision and calm — a 13.50 and a statement that he's still the guy. Later, he'd go viral for a single wave — a massive air section that lit up NSSA's social feeds like a flare over the cliffs. What looked like close to 10 feet of airtime, a deep crash of white water, and a perfect recovery. Just another day in the office for Jordy Collins. 

Blaze Ignites, Ryder Grinds, Julian Climbs

Blaze Roche had a rough start in Heat 6 — couldn't find a clean wall, settled for third with a 2.13 — but redemption came quick. In Round 2, he turned that frustration into flow state, slashing his way to second with a 10.06. The dude looks like he surfed all summer, he looks ready to bring in numbers all year long. 

Ryder Smith worked for every inch in Heat 7, putting up a 6.37 in gritty style. And in Heat 8, Julian Seyffert came within a whisker of stealing a win from Point Loma's Finley Weitzen — 11.07 to 10.47 — another sign the rookie Warriors have real bite.

Momentum in the Middle Rounds

Round 2 saw Westcliff heat up as the tide shifted. Jordy stayed alive with a third-place 12.04 — not quite enough to top the heat, but enough to remind everyone that the margin between first and third at this level can be a single turn.

Blaze kept his spark, Julian locked in a 9.70 win in Heat 8, and Westcliff started stacking those steady blue-collar scores that win titles in the long run.

A Heartbreaker of a Heat

Round 3 was where the drama peaked. Jordy paddled out in Heat 3 against a loaded field — San Diego State's Conrad Sanacore and Point Loma's Tucker Coleman. The final tallies: Sanacore 13.93, Coleman 13.37, Collins 13.33. A four-hundredths-of-a-point difference between first and heartbreak. But, in the end, it's the ride, not the score, and there's pride in a third like that. Sunday's rounds will tell the rest of that story.

Ryder put up a 5.20 in Heat 6, the kind of number that doesn't shake headlines but still matters — points, reps, experience, grit.

Round 4 ends early

Round 4 barely got underway before it ended. Julian Seyffert slid into second in Heat 1 with an 11.66 before officials called it. The rest of the round — and the quarterfinals — will resume Sunday morning, first light.

Still Surf, Still School, Still the Standard

Westcliff remains what it's been for years — the first school to offer surf scholarships, the program that proved college surfing could be legitimate. The Warriors are right back where they belong: in the mix with the giants, trading sets and sending statements.

Day 1 is in the books. Jordy's gone viral. Blaze is back on fire. Julian's still alive. Eddie's thriving down the coast. And as the Warriors head into Sunday's showdown, one thing's clear:

The tide hasn't turned on Westcliff — it's still rolling in.

SUNDAY'S SLATE

Kylan Crapenhoft - 7a

Jeremiah Lantz - 7:30a

Taylor Stacy - 8a

Niyah Rosen - 8a

Bella Lopez - 8:15a

Blaze Roche - 9:30a

Jordy Collins - 9:30a

Julian Seyffert - 11:45

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You're going to find incredible surf footage from world-class pros -- trust us, it's a viral vibe. 

See you Sunday at Black's!