Twelve summers ago, a 6-year-old surfer stood on the Huntington Beach Pier with a microphone in his face. The television news was featuring Kanoa Igarashi, a neighborhood kid who first hit the water when he was 3.
Opening shots showed him splashing through shallow waves next to his dad. Then it cut to Igarashi wearing a baggy black wetsuit, clutching his small board and sporting shoulder-length hair spotted blonde by so much time in the sun.
“Are you the youngest surfer in the world?” asked the reporter.
“I think so!” Igarashi answered, jumping with excitement and flashing a toothless smile.
There was probably some truth to that then, and there still is now.
Igarashi, 18, is the youngest surfer on the men’s Championship Tour and currently ranked 21st. Born in Santa Monica to Japanese parents, he’s also the first Asian to qualify for the tour and is leading the way at the U.S. Open of Surfing in his hometown of Huntington Beach this week.
It is a men’s Qualifying Series event, a step lower than the Championship Tour, but Igarashi wanted to hit the home waves and keep working toward his goal of becoming a world champion. He posted the highest second-round score Tuesday and advanced to the fourth round with Thursday’s best heat. The men’s bracket is through the third round, while the women’s Championship Tour event is down to eight competitors.
“My goal hasn’t wavered, and I don’t think it ever will,” Igarashi said Thursday of wanting to be a world champion. “I think I’m ahead of schedule and have accomplished more than I thought I would at this age. But it’s the same goal, and I’m on my way to it.”
Igarashi won his first surfing competition at 7 and has grown up fast. He was sponsored by the time he was 11, took his GED at 16 and now casually says things such as, “I have a two-week break before heading to Tahiti.”
On Monday, he’ll Skype into a conference to tell a group of decision-makers why surfing should be added to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Since he’s Japanese and a top surfer, he was told it was “up to him” to get the sport in the Games.
“I thought that was a lot for an 18-year-old,” Igarashi said, laughing. “I really hope I pick the right words.”
Regardless, Igarashi doesn’t wish that he was a “normal teenager.” He sees his friends when he’s home, even if it’s not often, and has grown close with many young surfers on tour.
“I’ve had so much fun doing this, and don’t feel like I’ve missed out on anything else,” he said. “I’m not even sure what that would be, what I’d be missing out on. This is what I know, and I love it.”
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Filipe Toledo celebrates with fans after winning the men’s title at the 2016 U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntingon Beach on Sunday.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 2/44
Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledo, 21, is swarmed by fans after winning the Vans US Open of Surfng title.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 3/44
Fans cheer as Brazilian surfer Filipe Toledo, 21, defeats Ethan Ewing for the Vans US Open of Surfng title.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4/44
Filipe Toledo cuts away from the Huntington Beach pier during the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 5/44
Australian Ethan Ewing, 17, competes against Filipe Toledo in the final round.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 6/44
Tatiana Weston-Webb lets out a victory yell after winning the women’s title at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday in Huntington Beach. (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans carry American surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb, 20, ashore after she defeated Malia Manuel for the women’s title.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 8/44
American surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb, 20, reacts after defeating Malia Manuel for the women’s title.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 9/44
Tatiana Weston-Webb competes in the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Sunday in Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 10/44
Hometown surfer Kanoa Igarashi gathers his thoughts before competing in a semifinal round.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 11/44
Thousands of surf fans watch the final day of competition at the 2016 Vans U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 12/44
Adriano De Souza loses control of his board while competing in the semifinals of the US Open of Surfing.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 13/44
Ethan Ewing, who would finish second, cuts off the top of a wave during the finals of the U.S. Open of Surfing.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 14/44
Torrey Meister during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Meister finished first in his heat.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 15/44
Josh Davis, 16, of Sacramento keeps cool under the pier while the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing competition takes place in Huntington Beach on Friday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 16/44
Conner Coffin, left, and Matt Banting collide during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Friday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 17/44
Kanoa Igarashi signs an autograph for Kalea Mussack, 2, of Huntington Beach after competing in round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 18/44
Brett Simpson cuts back on a wave during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. The two-time Open champion finished third in heat and failed to advance.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 19/44
Filipe Toledo cuts back on a wave during the fourth round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Toledo finished first in heat seven.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 20/44
A fan carries a shark floatie while the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing competition takes place in Huntington Beach on Friday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 21/44
Deivid Silva rides a wave near the Huntington Beach pier during the fourth round at the U.S. Open of Surfing on Friday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Bino Lopes cuts back atop a wave during round four of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 23/44
Surfer Kanoa Igarashi rides a wave during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach on Thursday.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 24/44
Surfer Kanoa Igarashi takes a picture with fans after competing in round 3 of the men’s qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach. Igarashi placed first in his heat.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 25/44
Tanner Gudauskas competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
(Dillon Deaton / Los Angeles Times) 26/44
Brazilian native Bino Lopes rides a wave during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 27/44
Australian surfer Jack Freestone competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 28/44
Surfer Carlos Munoz competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 29/44
Brazilian Surfer Michael Rodrigues competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 30/44
Surfer Tanner Gudauskas competes during round 3 of the mens qualifying series during the US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) 31/44
Patrick Gudaukas of La Jolla ompetes in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Patrick Gudaukas poses for a photo with a fan after competing during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 33/44
Australian Ethan Ewing competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Ewing, 17, is making his Huntington Beach debut.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 34/44
Hawaiian surfer Keanu Asing competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 35/44
Australian Keely Andrew competes during the third round of the U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36/44
Courtney Conlogue emerges from the surf after competing in the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Conlogue is currently the top-ranked women’s surfer in the world.
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Surfing fans stake out their spots on the sand for the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 38/44
Courtney Conlogue of Santa Ana cuts away from the Huntington Beach Pier as she competes in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian Stephanie Gilmore competes during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday. Gilmore, 28, is a six-time world champion.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 40/44
Carissa Kainani of Hawaii cuts off the top of a wave during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 41/44
Lakey Peterson of Santa Barbara cuts back into a wave during the third round of competition at the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
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Australian Sally Fitzgibbons turns away from the Huntington Beach Pier as she competes during the third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
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Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, 25, mingles with fans after competing in third round of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 44/44
Huntington Beach’s Kanoa Igarashi rides a wave during the U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
(Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times) Igarashi does feel some added pressure to win on his home waves, but this week mostly “feels like a break,” he said. It’s a chance to catch waves a few minutes from his front door, hang out with friends and family on the beach and get his favorite food at Sugar Shack Cafe at the end of the day.
He hasn’t scored lower than an 8.0 on any of the four waves counted toward his totals; most competitors would count as the highlight of their week if they did it once.
There are cheers of anticipation whenever he stands up on his board. As he walked up the beach after his Thursday heat, people greeted him with words such as, “Good job, Kanoa,” or “Sweet heat, man,” as if he were just another local surfer shredding the local swell.
If you take away his rapid ascension in the sport, that’s exactly what he is. Igarashi’s surfed these waves his whole life, just a stone’s throw from where he once made his TV debut.
“I think you’re going to be a world champion, what do you think?” the reporter asked a 6-year-old Igarashi as the interview wrapped up.
“Yeah!” Igarashi shot back, showing no doubt.
Some things never change.
jesse.dougherty@latimes.com
Twitter: @dougherty_jesse
