March 22, 1994 // San Clemente, California
Synopsis: The most visible young surfer in the States today, Kolohe Andino is the archetype of the 21st-century grommet. The multitude of state and national titles don’t do his abilities justice. More than anything, it’s who Kolohe surrounds himself with that’s the most telling. Andy and Jordy are just a couple surfers who’ve shared the lineup with him as of late, and in Europe this fall, he declined a wildcard to the Billabong Pro Mundaka, in large part because he would have drawn Kelly Slater. Had he accepted, he would have been the youngest surfer to ever compete on the ASP World Tour, but he has plenty of time to break records in the coming years.
Variables: People always questions whether or not he’ll burn out. Guess what folks, it ain’t gonna happen. For all the pressures weighing on him—be it from sponsors, parents, or even himself–Kolohe has as much fun surfing as any kid. His power may be another question, but chances are that’ll be put to rest once he gets a little hair on his chest.
Forecast: Impeccable fundamentals and technique, an innate natural ability, and a pedigree worth bragging about are just a few things that are going to put Kolohe on tour quicker than just about anybody else on the Hot 100 list. As Andy Irons once said, “It’s only a matter of time before the kid rules the world.”