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.


NORTHWEST CONFERENCE DOUBLEHEADER HITS FROSTY SANTA CRUZ

NSSA NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

OPEN SEASON EVENT #2

PLEASURE POINT, SANTA CRUZ-DECEMBER 15, 2012

OPEN SEASON EVENT #3

STEAMER LANE, SANTA CRUZ-DECEMBER 16, 2012

CONDITIONS: Tricky small and blustery 1-3 foot rights at Pleasure Point increasing overnight to 2-4 feet and fun, rippable rights and a few random good lefts at Steamer Lane

 

OPEN MENS FINAL FOUR STEAMER LANE

l-r: Kadin Panesi, Brogie Panesi, Nic Hdez, Dryden Brown

 

by: Janice Aragon l NSSA

 

OPEN JUNIORS FINAL FOUR PLEASURE POINT

l-r: Davis Freud, Richie Schmidt, Ben Coffey, Kirk Weissinger

 

 

Highlights from Northwest Conference Santa Cruz Open events #2 and #3:

 **Santa Cruz local Nic Hdez was primed to perform in his hometown waters winning both Men’s division finals at Pleasure Point and Steamer Lane. The 16-year-old who claimed his first National title in the Airshow division in 2012 was polished and explosive unloading solid frontside turns on the right-handers at both venues. It’s no surprise that Hdez was inspired to win both events as he has been mentored by local hero Nat Young who recently qualified for the elite ASP World Tour.

 **Noteworthy performances were delivered by Pacifica’s talented Panesi brothers Kadin and Brogie  who made Men’s finals at both Pleasure Point and Steamer Lane

**Huntington Beach’s Kirk Weissinger made the trek north and got the job done at Pleasure Point taking the win in the Juniors final. Weissinger is one of the top surfers in the Southwest Conference where he is ranked number 4 in the Open Juniors The victory was Weissinger’s first of the NSSA 2012-13 season.

**A new up-and-coming grom has burst on the scene in Norcal. Santa Cruz’s Sam Coffey has been stepping up his level and surfed to an outstanding first place finish in both Boys finals at Pleasure Point and Steamer Lane.

**Another Weissinger was in the Pleasure Point winners circle. Kirk’s younger brother Erik pulled out all the stops in the difficult, blustery conditions at Pleasure Point taking his first NSSA victory. Good job grom!

**After finishing runner-up to Kirk Weissinger in the Pleasure Point final, local talent Ben Coffey cashed in on his knowhow and experience surfing at Steamer Lane. He maximized the improving low-tide and increasing swell unloading crisp arcing turns to clinch his first win of the season.

**Of note, the Coffey family has surfing in its blood. Their father Ward is a local legend and accomplished surfboard shaper.

**In the Mini Grom division, AJ Menna claimed his second win of the season. Menna, who won the season opener at Morro Rock back in October, put forth an impressive surfing display in the chilly, challenging conditions of the Lane.

**A huge hats off to all of our groms for competing in frigid, stormy and demanding surf conditions at both Pleasure Point and Steamer Lane. Way to step up!

**Due to the surf shutting down because of extreme high tide at Pleasure Point, the female divisions were postponed. The Women’s and Girl’s divisions were a go at Steamer Lane and hometown locals triumphed. Ashley Held claimed victory in Womens and Autumn Hays took home the win in Girls. It was first-time wins for both girls…congratulations!

 

OPEN BOYS FINAL FOUR STEAMER LANE

l-r: Zane Booth, Burkley Eggers, Sean Winterburn, Sam Coffey

 

PERFORMERS OF THE WEEKEND

Nic Hdez

Sam Coffey

 

MINI GROM SHREDDERS FROM PLEASURE POINT...WE ARE THE FUTURE!

l-r: Trystan Nyberg, Santiago Hart, AJ Menna, Erik Weissinger

 

Be sure to keep up with all the NSSA action via the website at nssa.org and social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.

 

OPEN WOMENS FINAL FOUR STEAMER LANE

l-r: Steffi Kerson, Ashley Held, Abby Brown, Nina Dodge

 

COMING UP IN CALI: Our annual contest tradition the weekend before Christmas continues on December 22-23 as the Open Season heads south to San Diego’s world-renowned Seaside Reef, one of the most prominent venues on the Southwest Conference schedule.

 

OPEN JUNIORS FINAL FOUR STEAMER LANE

l-r: Sean Woods, Micky Clarke, Carlos Carpenter, Ben Coffey

 

THE SCOREBOARD

RESULTS

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE OPEN SEASON EVENT #2

PLEASURE POINT, SANTA CRUZ


OPEN MENS

1. Nic Hdez-Santa Cruz

2. Wyatt Barrabee-Santa Cruz

3. Kadin Panesi-Pacifica

4. Brogie Panesi-Pacifica

 

OPEN JUNIORS

1. Kirk Weissinger-Huntington Beach

2. Ben Coffey-Santa Cruz

3. Davis Freud-Huntington Beach

4. Richie Schmidt-Santa Cruz

 

OPEN BOYS

1. Sam Coffey-Santa Cruz

2. Zane Booth-Santa Barbara

3. Burkley Eggers-El Granada

4. Fisher Baxter-Santa Cruz

 

OPEN MINI GROMS

1. Erik Weissinger-Huntington Beach

2. AJ Menna-Santa Cruz

3. Santiago Hart-Santa Cruz

4. Trystan Nyberg-Truckee

 

EVENT #2 OPEN WOMENS, OPEN GIRLS, OPEN LONGBOARD WERE POSTPONED DUE TO TIDAL SHUTDOWN

 

MINI GROMS RIPPERS FROM STEAMER LANE...WE ARE THE FUTURE!

l-r: Erik Weissinger, AJ Menna, Santiago Hart, Jabe Swierkocki

 

THE SCOREBOARD

RESULTS

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE OPEN SEASON EVENT #3

STEAMER LANE, SANTA CRUZ


OPEN MENS

1. Nic Hdez-Santa Cruz

2. Kadin Panesi-Pacifica

3. Brogie Panesi-Pacifica

4. Dryden Brown-Santa Barbara

 

OPEN JUNIORS

1. Ben Coffey-Santa Cruz

2. Micky Clarke-Ventura

3. Sean Woods-Thousand Oaks

4. Carlos Carpenter-Davenport

 

OPEN BOYS

1. Sam Coffey-Santa Cruz

2. Burkley Eggers-El Granada

3. Sean Winterburn-Soquel

2. Zane Booth-Santa Barbara

 

OPEN MINI GROMS

1. AJ Menna-Santa Cruz

2. Erik Weissinger-Huntington Beach

3. Jabe Swierkocki-Ventura

4. Santiago Hart-Santa Cruz

 

OPEN WOMENS

1. Ashley Held-Santa Cruz

2. Nina Dodge-Santa Cruz

3. Steffi Kerson-Pacific Palisades

4. Abby Brown-Santa Barbara

 

OPEN GIRLS

1. Autumn Hays-Santa Cruz

2. Alani Helm-Santa Cruz

3. Allison Menna-Santa Cruz

4. Kaira Wallace-Montara