THE NSSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY NO FEAR
THE NSSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2007 National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA), Championship Series presented by No Fear.
WHERE AND WHEN
JUNE 20-23, 2007 SALT CREEK
Competition will run from approximately 6:30am-6:30pm
JUNE 26-30, 2007 LOWER TRESTLES
Competition will run from 8:00am-5:00pm
National Championship finals will be held on June 30
2007 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS BANQUET
July 1 at 6:00pm at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott, Dana Point.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
A complete schedule of the 2007 NSSA National Championships is available on the website at www.nssa.org. Click on "Heat Times” http://www.nssa.org/newsmanager/templates/NSSASchedule.aspx?articleid=211&zoneid=7
Nine-time National Champion Carissa Moore
(Huntington Beach, Ca) - Here we go. The regular season is over. The Regional Championships are in the books. It’s Nationals time and the slates are wiped clean. The nation will be captivated for two breathless weeks as all eyes will be on Salt Creek and Lower Trestles for the 29th annual NSSA National Championships. The NSSA Nationals, the highest profile youth surfing event in the country, has come to be regarded as the "Super Bowl” of amateur surfing. More than 1,000 surfers from the NSSA’s seven nation wide conferences will compete for National bragging rights. The nine day surfing extravaganza will open up at Salt Creek for four days running June 20-23. From June 26-30, the championships will move to center stage at Lower Trestles-the nation’s most reputable high performance wave. The four categories of the championships will bring on amazing competition with tons of action. The intense team rivalries of the INTERSCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS; the jaw-dropping stunts of the AIRSHOW CHAMPIONSHIPS; the go-for-broke performances of the EXPLORER CHAMPIONSHIPS as competitors use it as a tune up for the main event; the pressure cooker of the OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS which is considered the highest and most prestigious level of amateur surfing competition in the nation.
WHO IS AT THE HEAD OF THE CLASS THIS YEAR?
OPEN MENS
The Hawaiians are gonna be tough. Defending champion Kekoa Cazimero from Waimanalo will be on everyone’s radar unlike last year when he was an underdog who came on strong to win the coveted title. The stakes are higher now and he will have to give a Herculean performance to win back-to-backs as the competition will be fierce. Maui’s Granger Larsen finished out the regular season with five wins and was sizzling hot at the Hawaii Regionals pulling off a trifecta in Open Men’s, Explorer Men’s and Explorer Juniors. He had a tremendous Nationals last year making three finals and winning the Explorer Juniors upping his title count to four. Kai Barger is another serious Maui performer. The three time National Champion had five wins during the regular season and finished runner up to Granger at the Regionals. He will be out to prove himself after his disappointing round two upset at Nationals last year. After a lackluster ’06 Nationals performance, Tonino Benson was more focused this season finishing at No. 3. The lightning fast Big Island native is determined to make a statement. Out west, there was a dramatic power shift down the stretch of the regular season. After a stupendous start, San Clemente’s Trevor Saunders lost steam which continued into a sub par West Coast Regionals performance. He’s got the skills, we’ve seen it. But he’s got to come out and be ready to rock and roll against his aggressive challengers. While Saunders slowed down, Cory Arrambide revved it up stealing the conference title from Saunders and then going ballistic at the Regionals. Arrambide’s dazzling West Coast show suggests he will be the one pushing the envelope at the Creek and Lowers. 2006 Open Juniors Champ Dillon Perillo has flair, power and the potential to blow doors if he keeps his cool. From the right coast, the competitors are once again on the hot seat trying to bring home the Open Men’s gold for the first time ever. The sickest maneuver award at the ’06 Nationals unanimously went to Blake Jones for his inverted 540 in the Airshow final. Moves like that could put the Melbourne Beach local on the podium in an instant. New Jersey’s Rob Kelly has had our attention since his impressive East Coast Regionals victory at Sebastian Inlet. He has a good shot at doing some upset work. Cody Thompson was looking sharp at the Regionals despite his frustrating quarterfinal loss in the Open. He quickly got back on track to boast double wins in the Explorer Men’s and Juniors. Plus his first round loss at last year’s Nationals will undoubtedly be a huge motivator.
OPEN WOMENS
While the Men’s category usually dominates the headlines, don’t be surprised if the Women’s division grabs a lot of the attention. Will the story stay the same or will one of Carissa Moore’s opponents author a different ending? It will be interesting to see who steps up big because everyone will need to bring their "A” game to take on the nine-time National Champion. The 14-year-old from Honolulu has been deemed the best female surfer in the nation for three straight years and could even be considered one of the top surfers in the world witnessed by her runner-up showing at the ASP World Tour Roxy Pro. Along with Carissa, the Hawaiians are coming with a powerhouse contenders list. Malia Manuel who was runner up to Carissa last year, moved into the No. 1 seed position after her impressive Regionals victory. Coco Ho is a top-level talent and is still chasing her first title. Bethany Hamilton has had a lot on her plate besides surfing but if she’s focused she could make things happen. She’s proven it with her 2005 Explorer victory. 13-year-old Alessa Quizon burst onto the NSSA scene and had a remarkable rookie year with five wins. The west has its share of title contenders. Demi Boelsterli should be pumped up after her impressive Regionals victory over Southwest No. 1 seed Courtney Conlogue. Conlogue is a hustler who demands excellence from herself and will be determined to take home the hardware. Sage Erickson had a rough Regionals with a quarterfinal meltdown in the Open but came back to win the Explorer. Both Erickson and Conlogue made the ’06 Nationals final coming in 3rd and 5th respectively. The east coast girls are looking for their first National title since Karina Petroni’s 2002 triumph. 12-year-old Quincy Davis from the Northeast Conference celebrated her first major victory at the East Coast Regionals while Amy Nicholl was the dominator during the regular season in Florida.
OPEN JUNIORS
Southwest No. 1 ranked Nat Young was burning the map competing up and down the west coast earning eleven victories during the regular season. He claimed both the Southwest and Northwest Conference Open titles. No. 2 seed Andrew Doheny is still in hot pursuit of a National title that has eluded him since his Mini Grom days. If his performance during the regular season and the West Coast Regionals is any indicator, Doheny will leave Lowers with his hands full of hardware. His double victory in Open Juniors and Explorer Boys puts him second on the all-time Regional wins list. On top of that, during the regular season the 14-year-old was winning Open Men’s finals. One thing’s for sure, the kid who has been living in John John Florence’s shadow is tired of getting second. Dane Zaun busted two perfect 10’s at last year’s Nationals and his aerials have gotten even crazier. 2006 Open Boys champion Conner Coffin is the power guy in the division. No matter the wave size, he’ll be throwing water. Hawaii’s contender’s list is potent. John John Florence is well deserving of all the hype with four National titles to his credit. He surfs Lowers incredibly well and always poses a serious threat for his challengers. Kiron Jabour moved into Hawaii’s No. 1 position in the Open Juniors after his Regionals victory. Like Doheny, Jabour has also measured up against the elder Open Men’s competitors with a No. 7 ranking in that division. Tanner Hendrickson and Albee Layer tied for the conference crown and both will be aiming for their first National title. Florida’s Evan Geiselman brings a lot of momentum after coming off a two win record-shattering performance at the East Coast Regionals. At 13-years-old, Geiselman is a young pup in the division but he has the potential to shine especially in view of his two runner-up finishes last year in Explorer Boys and Menehuenes.
OPEN BOYS
Southwest No. 1 ranked Kolohe Andino had another banner year and was the leader in NSSA contest wins this season with 14. The 13-year-old super grom already has three National titles under his belt with a pair of victories last year in the Explorer Boys and Menehuenes and a Mini Grom title in 2005. He is entered into five divisions (Open Juniors & Boys; Explorer Boys & Menehuene; Middle School Boys) and has the potential to succeed in every category as proven by his regular season achievements. Hawaii’s No. 1 ranked Koa Smith dominated the Open Boys and Explorer Menehuene divisions this season. From the east, South Carolina’s Cam Richards made his presence known with a strong two win showing at the Regionals in the Open Boys and Explorer Menehuenes.
THE INTERSCHOLASTICS
The National Interscholastic Championships kicks off the nine day Nationals extravaganza beginning with the Collegiate division. Top ranked Saddleback will try and make it two straight when they return to Salt Creek. After a mediocre regular season with zero wins, Saddleback came storming back in the post season to capture the State title over UCSB. Perennial powerhouse Mira Costa was stifled at State but you can never count them out. From the east coast, the College of Charleston out of South Carolina walloped the comp at the East Coast Regionals and secured their first trip to the Nationals. The complete list of colleges competing are Saddleback, San Diego State, Mira Costa, UCSB, UCSC, Point Loma, Cal State San Marcos, UCSD, Daytona Beach Community College, University of Central Florida, College of Charleston from South Carolina.
In the High School Championships, No. 1 ranked San Clemente is in position to claim their ninth National title. They have another solid lineup led by Trevor Saunders but its more their combined mix of competitive ability and team spirit that makes them tough. The Tritons don’t panic when the chips are down and that was clearly the case when they gutted out the National title in a one point tiebreaker over the talented Ventura squad last year. No. 2 seed San Dieguito is a team with promise. Team members Eric Snortum and Ryan Burch are two of the top surfers in California who could help get the job done. This team has a legit shot to snap San Clemente’s dominance. Seventeen-time National Champion Huntington Beach is seeking its first National title since 1998. With a stinging third place finish at the State titles, Coach Andy Verdone made a few tweaks to his lineup. The Oilers are starving for another National title and eager to prove that the time has come. The complete list of High Schools competing are Huntington Beach A & B, San Clemente A & B, San Dieguito Blue & White, Edison, Carlsbad, Carpenteria, Palos Verdes, Marina, Manasquan from New Jersey, Kealakehe from Hawaii.
Shorecliffs Middle School will be going for their second consecutive and fourth career National title. Kolohe Andino will lead the charge for Shorecliffs. The mega talented squad pounded their opponents at the State titles with team members sweeping the individual categories-Ian Crane in the Middle School Boys, Tara Franz in the Middle School Girls and Eli Gillis in the Middle School Longboard. The complete list of Middle Schools competing are Shorecliffs Red, White & Blue, Sowers Red, Black and White, Oak Crest, Dwyer, Bernice Ayer, Laurel Springs, Kapaa from Hawaii.
ANOTHER HISTORIC BREAKTROUGH
Carissa Moore continues to set the standard for the future of Women’s surfing. This year, she became the first female to qualify and enter the National Airshow Championships. Carissa’s got her work cut out for her as she meets up with defending National Champion Blake Jones who recently won the East Coast Regional Airshow. The airshow level should break the sound barrier with West Coast Champ Cory Arrambide, aerial phenom Dane "Air” Zaun and Hawaii Champ Matt Meola.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS GOVERNOR’S CUP
For the seventh consecutive year, the NSSA is pleased to team up with the California State Parks in presenting the prestigious Governor’s Cup trophy to the winners of the Open Mens and Womens divisions. Many thanks to the State of California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California State Parks for supporting the National Championships and our commitment to education and scholastic surfing.
NATIONALS WEBCAST
As part of greatly expanded coverage of the National Championships, Surfing Magazine’s website at surfingthemag.com will webcast the final three days of the competition, June 28-30. The webcast, sponsored by Nike 6.0, will take Nationals coverage to the next level with unprecedented coverage of the Open Championships and all of the National Championship and Governor’s Cup finals. Now, surfing fans worldwide will be able to follow all of the action, the three peak days at Lower Trestles. The webcast will be hosted by Surfing Magazine Editor in Chief Evan Slater.
PARKING AT SALT CREEK AND LOWER TRESTLES
Salt Creek offers a large metered parking lot off of Ritz Carlton Drive which requires quarters so bring lot's of them. There is a path from the parking lot that leads to Salt Creek beach. At Lower Trestles, special events parking of $10.00 per day will be available at the State Parks parking lot at the Basilone Rd exit. Shuttle service provided by the NSSA will be available from the parking lot to the contest site from 6:00am - 5:00pm Tuesday-Saturday.
NATIONAL AWARDS BANQUET
The tradition continues! The 29th annual National Championship Awards Banquet will be held at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point. The festivities will start with a 5:00 pm reception and then dinner served at 6:00 pm. Guest reservations must be purchased through the NSSA.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PROUD PARTNERS
No Fear, Body Glove, Nike 6.0, Freestyle, Huntington Surf and Sport, Surfing Magazine, Sex Wax, Surfline, California State Parks
NSSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS INFORMATION
Janice Aragon, NSSA Executive Director
jaragon@nssa.org
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Bryan Taylor - taylorvision007@gmail.com; 310-777-0195