Dreamin’ of the Big Time
David Pinto likes to compare his first year as a professional surfer to a baseball player in the minor leagues.
“When you come out of the amateur ranks into the professional, you have to go through this process of trying to make the [World Championship Tour],” Pinto said.
“Just like a minor league player dreams of playing in the majors, I have the same dream for my career. It can take a long time, or a short time, but the one thing you have to do is be serious, work hard and compete as much as you can.”
Pinto, from San Juan Capistrano, will get his next at-bat during the Body Glove Surfbout, which begins Monday at Oceanside. The competition, which is the second stop on the Clarion Surf Tour, moves Tuesday to Lower Trestles. The finals are Saturday.
Pinto, 19, said a good showing will enable him to make up some ground on the World Qualifying Series ratings.
“I think I’ll do good at Trestles. I used to surf there all the time. And I try to get out there at least once a week,” he said. “I know the break, so I think I’ll have an advantage over some of the other competitors.”
Pinto will be competing against some of the world’s best surfers, including Shane Beschen of San Clemente, Pat O’Connell of Laguna Niguel, Shea and Corey Lopez of San Clemente and Taylor Knox of Carlsbad, who recently won the $50,000 K-2 Big Wave Challenge.
When he graduated from Capistrano Valley High last year, Pinto was already one of the top amateur surfers in the world. He was a two-time National Scholastic Surfing Assn. champion, and he recently signed with Billabong as a company representative.
After high school, he had to decide between surfing professionally or attending college.
“Since I was 10 I wanted to be a professional surfer,” he said. “After I graduated from high school, I talked to my parents and told them how much I wanted to do this. They would have liked me to go on to college, but they told me they would back me 100% if I wanted to pursue this course.”
Pinto continued to discover the pro circuit was a different game from amateur competitions.
“It’s a different level,” said Pinto, who is No. 81 on the Clarion Surf Tour. “The level of surfing is a huge notch up. The mood is serious and they hardly make mistakes. Some of these guys have families. This is how they make their living, so you know they want to win and get on the WCT.”
For Pinto, and hundreds of surfers like him who are trying to qualify for the WCT, Ian Cairns of U.S. Surfing says the task can be monumental.
“There are thousands of really good surfers out there. And a lot of them don’t make it,” Cairns said. “Right now, David is in front of the jury. He needs to be more consistent and get some higher finishes. But no one said it was easy. But the rewards, if you make it, are fabulous.”
Cairns, a one-time world champion, said Pinto has the ability to make it on the WCT, which is made up of the 44 top surfers in the world, but he needs to be focused, dedicated and put in a lot of hard work.
In addition, Cairns said, Pinto needs to come back from disappointing finishes and try again, keeping a positive attitude.
One aspect of the professional lifestyle that Pinto finds appealing is the travel. This year, Pinto has been to South Africa and South America and recently returned from a competition in Australia.
“Even though there were no waves, it was still a good trip,” he said. “I like traveling. It’s still new to me, and it’s cool to experience the different cultures and lifestyles.”
Though he’s determined to make it on surfing’s professional tour, Pinto covered his bases by sending out college applications. He laughed when he said he only applied to schools near the ocean, such as Pepperdine, but explained it just worked out that way.
Or, maybe not.
“Well, since I do surf, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to go to school where there’s surf.”
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
Surf’s Up!
* What: The Body Glove Surf Bout XI
* When: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.
* Where: Monday in Oceanside, but duration of contest at Lower Trestles in San Clemente. Take San Diego Freeway south, exit Basilone Road toward the beach. A pay parking lot will be open during the event.
* Participants/Notes: Some of the world’s best professional men and women surfers will be competing as well as top bodyboarders and longboarders. Lower Trestles is one of California’s premier surf spots, offering long reef point break rights and often hollow lefts. With any luck, a good south swell could come through and make conditions excellent.
* Admission: $6 parking
* Information: (714) 366-4584