Carlsbad Native Julia Christian Snags Gold for Team USA

As Team USA descended upon the beach at the 2006 Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games, the members read like a virtual who’s who of the surf world; the Hobgood brothers (both fixtures on the WCT), surfing legend Pat O’Connell, whiz kid Chris Ward, and female maestros Julia Christian and Courtney Conlogue. The team was amped to win, revoking the U.S. team’s 10-year drought without a gold medal. But it was in the chest high, glassy conditions that reigned over the nine-day event that Julia Christian, Carlsbad native, secured the individual gold for team USA.
The ISA World Surfing Games have been lauded as one of the most exciting contests of the year, a symbolic platform for the world’s best wave riders to come together under the unity and spirit of surfing, but also an expressive nine-day contest where countries flex their collective muscle in the water, with a faint schoolyard din of “this is what we got, how about you.”
As the men's team slowly lost grasp of the first and second positions amidst the constant rivalry between South Africa, Brazil, and Australia, it was Julia Christian who knew she had to step up her game for her team to grasp the gold.
“This was such a special event for me because typically I compete for myself on tour, but here it’s for my country,” Christian said.
The former ISA World Junior Champion silver medalist, 2005 Honda US Open winner, and overall dominant dark horse on the WCT is known not only by her moniker “the Mole”, but also for her strong roots and surfing legacy in her native town of Carlsbad. Christian’s surfing is strategic in her wave choice but in a moment’s notice is aggressive, laying heavy floaters and killer cut backs all the way to the shore’s edge.
As the USA team cheered her along from the beach, Christian focused in the final, dominating amidst a dramatic paddle battle with fellow 'CTer and Brazilian powerhouse Jacqueline Silva. The heat was intense with Rosanne Hodge of South Africa, and fellow team member and youngest competitor Courtney Conlogue refusing to bow out without a fight. But it was in the final minutes of the heat that Christian's knowledge of the local break gave her the win, posting just .01 over Silva.  
It was the first time in 10 years that the USA had garnered a gold medal in the World Surfing Games, and as Christian stood on the podium, flanked by Silva and Hodge, it was apparent that she had surfed for the pride of her team.