Nat Young

There are wins and then there are statements. There are busts and then, well, there are talents like Nat Young. Young’s Oakley Pro Junior win at this year’s Coldwater Classic wasn’t just your standard podium appearance -- it was a sign of things to come. Young is 16 years old. Sixteen. I doubt the kid’s past his prime, hell, I’m not sure he’s past puberty. He’s only going to mature, and he will get better. How’s that for an upside? Freakish. A new member of the USA Surf Team in ‘08, the budding phenom from Santa Cruz, fresh off his season finale win in the Pro Junior, will look to take his boosted seed into an enthusiastic ASP North America Pro Junior campaign next year.