Surfing Laguna: Surf season comes to a close

It’s been another strong year in the books for the Laguna Beach High School Surf Team.

Although the Breakers went 1-6 this season you would have never known it from the positive attitudes and joyful demeanor displayed by the team members. This last week of competition featured three of the standout performers for the Laguna squad led by South Coast League champ Taylor Pitz.

Taylor went undefeated this year to capture her second consecutive league crown in the hotly contested girls short board division.

Commenting on Taylor’s surfing, Coach Alisa Cairns said: “It’s really great to see Taylor surf her heats with confidence and with a solid strategy. She knows what needs to be done out there, and she consistently delivers.”

Another standout for the Breakers was senior and team Captain Porter Hogan who fought his way through the league finals and wound up placing a very respectable sixth place overall in the boys short board division.

Porter shared his thoughts on the season and what’s ahead for his budding young career:

“This surf season was insane! I couldn’t believe how great our team did. It’s not just about the wins and losses, some of the younger kids stepped it up and that is what really makes me happy. Watching the team progress is awesome. As far as my surfing, I’m happy with the season and now I’m looking forward to doing some WQS events and some Pro Junior stops. I can’t wait to enroll in Orange Coast College, then transfer to UCSB.”

Porter also gave a special shout out to his new surfboard sponsor.

“I really want to thank Rusty for supporting me and helping me achieve my goals this year. These boards have really helped me get to the next level with my surfing, and I am very thankful to those guys for that.”

Another Laguna senior, Sean Kimball, chimed in on the season and his future plans.

“I thought this season was no doubt the best surf season by far! I am looking forward to working hard to take my surfing as far as possible and become a professional. After graduation I’m headed off to serve on a mission then college at BYU in Hawaii, so I can study and work on my surfing. I really want to thank my family for all their support this season, you Chris, and my sponsors too.”

Sean also shared his dream surf location: “I’d love to surf Indonesia with just my close friends and me out together.”

CHRIS WILLIAMS is a surfing coach and Laguna Beach resident, and father of four surf-crazy sons. He can be reached through his blog: souladventuresinc.blogspot.com/.