NSSA Nationals

The 2007 NSSA Nationals, held earlier this summer at two of Southern California's primo south swell magnets, was representative of several new trends emerging in U.S surfing. It also resurrected some old ones.
Another young phenom emerged surfing at a world champion level, ala Kelly Slater or Tom Curren, and a coveted high school crown was returned back down south after years sitting on OC shelves. But the Hawaiians were the story, again, at this year's event. An all Hawaiian Open Boys final, numerous finalists in every division and two of the country's most prestigious amateur titles, the Open Men’s and Open Women’s crowns, showed that the Islands are producing a talent pool that is hungrier than any prior Hawaiian contingency.
The event began at Salt Creek in Dana Point and ended at Lower Trestles in San Clemente. Unfortunately, there was minimal southern hemi in the water. There was, however, a short interval north windswell that makes the rights fat but gives the lefts bowly little offerings.
Tonino Benson stuck to the more critical lefts and took the Open Men finals with an 8 and a 7.25. Ventura's Corey Arrambide was fully pumped after an Explorer Men’s win but came up short in the Open Men finals. Arrambide smacked a closing second right-hander but couldn't get the 8.75 he needed to take over the Hawaiian's hold. Two more Hawaiian's, Alex Smith and Kai Barger (the Explorer Juniors champ), rounded out the rest of the final in third and fourth respectively. Newport’s Andrew Doheney took the Open Junior crown.
It was the Open Women final that saw the NSSA’s newest, classic, budding super-star. Carissa Moore is surfing at an unprecedented caliber for a 14-year-old, male or female. She proved herself as a surfer of WCT caliber when she placed second at the Roxy Pro at Snapper earlier this year. She hardly needs to prove her talent on the amateur stage. But she did, and, although she easily posted an 18-point heat score, she had to overcome a stacked field of some very talented young girls that included fellow Hawaiian Coco Ho (2nd), Ventura's Sage Erickson (3rd) and Kauai's Alana Blanchard (4th). And we can’t forget the team that brought the long lost gold back to San Diego, the San Dieguito Academy, after winning the interscholastic High School Men's title.
The 2007 NSSA National’s showcased tomorrow’s talent and maybe a future world champ or two. After watching these kids do battle for six days, one thing is clear. The talking heads are right -- these kids do rip.