In His Own Words: “To be young and frothy in California is a great thing. I’ve had a diverse sphere of influence growing up in the Golden State. When I was younger my brothers and I would always go into Astrodeck and talk with Herbie Fletcher. He would give us insight into the surf world through sick stories of the past. There have been so many surfers that have trailblazed their way to the top that it makes it easier on us being the next generation. For this, I am grateful to be a young Californian. I remember watching Searching for Tom Curren and loving the way that he could surf a wave. He seemed like he was floating on a magic carpet. Then to watch the guys from the Momentum Generation like Pat O’ and Taylor Knox surf Salt Creek or the San Diego beachbreaks, that was just inspiring. They have such power-driven styles and that influenced the way I wanted to surf. Seeing Wardo, Cory and Shea Lopez, the Beschens, and the Fletchers surfing firing Lowers was always a clinic in progressive surfing. Then the guys that I got to watch surf a lot when I was growing up through the NSSAs, like Timmy Reyes and Dane Reynolds, those guys are now blasting their way on the WCT. Those two guys are my favorites to watch because of how unpredictable they can be. There have been a lot of expectations to get more American surfers on the WCT. I look at these pressures as a chance to shine through hard work and determination. I’m stoked at the opportunity to represent California on a world stage.”