NSSA - National Scholastic Surfing Association

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and assist its members in their interest to learn and develop the fundamentals and skills of surfing competition while competing in structured and quality events. The NSSA promotes the qualities of discipline and competitive excellence while supporting the merits of academic achievement to young surfers. The NSSA strives to provide a fun surfing experience for all of its members.

The NSSA is one of the few national youth sports organizations that require its participants to maintain academic standards in order to compete. Since 1978, the NSSA program philosophy has been that athletics and scholastics go hand in hand. More than 80 NSSA events are run nationwide that culminate with the annual National Championships which is regarded as the highest profile youth surfing event in America.


ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER RECAPS THE 2010 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tuesday, July 06, 2010 | Written by Orange County Register: Fred Swegles

Nationals recap: How O.C. surfers did

By FRED SWEGLES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
 
Here are some pictorials, from San Clemente High's national team title to Kanoa Igarashi's national boys title and more.From Huntington Beach's Kanoa Igarashi to the entire San Clemente High surf team, Orange County is a winner at this year's NSSA Nationals.

Igarashi captured the national Open Boys' title Saturday at Huntington Beach, as the San Clemente High surf team took National Scholastic Surfing Association titles in both divisions – Varsity and JV.

Article Tab : scoring-national-clemente
Lani Doherty of San Clemente gouges a section, scoring a 9.1 en route to a national title in the JV women's division at NSSA Nationals. photo: FRED SWEGLES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
MORE PHOTOS »
Some O.C. highlights:

•Varsity: Among nine teams, San Clemente High takes the title with 97 points to runner-up Newport Harbor's 86. Third is San Dieguito, 71. Kaleigh Gilchrist of Newport Harbor is the women's champion, Jeff Newell of Edison High the longboard champ. Ezekiel Lau from Kamehameha School, Hawaii, takes the high school men's title.

•Junior Varsity: San Clemente High is first with 91, Huntington Beach second with 69. San Clemente's Jonah Carter (men), Lani Doherty (women) and Eli Gillis (longboard) win all three divisions.

•Open Boys: Igarashi and Jacob Davis of Capistrano Beach place 1-2. Three of the six finalists are from O.C., San Clemente's Colt Ward placing fifth.

•Open Longboard: Shaun Thompson of Huntington Beach is No. 1.

•Airshow: Sam Orozco's "Superman" makes him No. 1.

•Open Mini Grom: Tyler Gunter of Newport Beach is runner-up for the national title. Kairi Noro, from Japan, residing in San Clemente, is fourth.

Newport Harbor's Colin Moran (high school men), San Clemente's Marissa Shaw (high school women) and Dennis White (high school longboard) are runners-up for national titles. Other high school finalists from O.C. include San Clemente's Emmy Merrill and Ian Crane, Newport Harbor's Aaron Cervantes and Shelby Detmers, Huntington Beach's Christian Saenz and Tony Bartovich, Laguna Beach's Taylor Pitz and Travis Sampson, and Edison's Anise Guzman.

In Open divisions, Hawaii's Kaimana Jaquias (men) and Keala Naihe (juniors) win national titles. California's national champions are Igarashi (boys), Thompson (longboard), Orozco (airshow), Lakey Peterson of Santa Barbara (women) and John Mel of Santa Cruz (mini grom).

In Explorer divisions, Hawaii's Ezekiel Lau, Leila Hurst and Kalani David win men's, women's and menehune titles. Parker Coffin of Santa Barbara and Taylor Clark of Encinitas take junior and boys' titles. O.C. finalists include Saenz, Igarashi, Griffin Colapinto of San Clemente and Shaw Kobayashi of San Clemente.

San Clemente High has won eight of the last 12 NSSA team titles, dating back to 1999. Carlsbad High won in 2001, San Dieguito in 2007, Elite Element Academy (Hawaii) in 2008 and 2009.

 Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127