NSSA National Champs
Presented by No Fear

National Scholastic Surfing Assn
Salt Creek & Trestles California
17 - 27 June 2009

Andino, Peterson win NSSA National open divisions

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 July, 2009 : -
- Huntington Beach -- It was another two weeks to remember June 17-27
at both the terrific left hand point at Salt Creek and on the hottest
peak on the planet Lower Trestles in the pristine San Onofre State
Park. Consistent combinations of southwest swells delivered fun,
contestable chest to shoulder high waves throughout the entire
championship event.

As with every year, the competition was intense and
electrifying as the talent level soared through the roof. Here are a
few highlights from the 31st annual NSSA National Championships and 9th
annual California State Parks Governor's Cup.

OPEN MEN'S/GOVERNOR'S CUP

With an extremely talented field of 96 surfers competing, the
final four came down to San Clemente's wunderkind Kolohe Andino,
Florida's Evan Thompson, Hawaii's Alex Smith and Santa Barbara's
powerhouse Conner Coffin. Both Andino and Coffin were surfing up an
age bracket with nothing to lose while Thompson and Smith were heavily
focused on the task of taking home their first National titles. Not
surprisingly, after his stirring Regional Championship victory at
Sebastian Inlet in April, Evan Thompson turned out to be the East Coast
hero at the Nationals.

The 17-year-old Jacksonville Beach native delivered a
commendable performance making two finals while coming one place away
from becoming the first east coaster to win the Open Men's. When the
35-minute final got underway, Andino quickly went to work on a right
posting up an excellent 8.25 score. Thompson stayed in the game with a
6.25 and 7.5 while Smith and Coffin patiently waited for the good
waves. By the time, Andino put two more solid 7.0 and 7.5 scores on
the board, Smith and Coffin were still struggling to get in the groove
and Thompson needed a substantial 8.5 score.

Evan Thompson, Conner Coffin, Kolohe Andino, Alex Smith : photo NSSA

In the final minutes Smith made things interesting when he
launched a smooth air reverse to the tune of an 8.0 score but it was
too little, too late. Kolohe Andino was crowned the 2009 National Open
Men's and Governor's Cup Champion along with securing a legendary place
in NSSA history. Andino served up a super inspiring combination of
technique, finesse and flash during the National's nine day marathon,
from day one at Salt Creek where he paddled out and won all of his
Explorer heats to the final day at Lowers where he competed in four
finals and won three of them including the Explorer Boys and Airshow.

"I just wanted to do my best and surf my best and for me to
win the Open Men's and be carried up the beach at my home spot by two
of my best friends Luke Davis and Ian Crane is priceless," Andino
said. "The day before I was bummed because I lost in the Open Juniors
but I had to re-group because I had an Open Men's round three heat soon
after. Later that afternoon, I got a couple new boards from my shaper
Mayhem and they rode like a magic carpet.

When you get that new board feeling and the board works
amazing, there is just nothing like it. The following day right before
the Men's final, I was surfing off to the side on the new board and
feeling really good. In the final I got that 8.25 in the first three
minutes. I actually snagged it from Conner because they were all too
far outside and that's where the local knowledge skills pay off."
Andino shattered the record books in multiple facets: He became the
youngest Open Men's Champion at 15 years and 97 days old.

He added three more titles to his resume which brings his
total to nine breaking the male record of seven previously held by
current ASP World Tour surfer Bobby Martinez. He became the first son
of a NSSA Champion to win a National Open title more than 20 years
after his father Dino took the Open Men's crown in 1985.

"When I first started NSSA, I never thought I could be able to
catch or beat Bobby's record because I could never picture myself
getting up on this podium seven different times," Andino said. "And
then five days before the event started at the Creek, I found myself
having the goal of trying to beat his record. For me to get nine and
break the record is just crazy. It happened a day ago and I still
can't believe it!"

Courtney Conlogue, Malia Manuel, Lakey Peterson, Nage Melamed : photo NSSA

OPEN WOMENS/GOVERNOR'S CUP

In one of the most competitive fields witnessed in Women's
competition, the Open Women's/Governor's Cup final came down to a
showdown between reigning champion Courtney Conlogue, Santa Barbara
up-and-comer Lakey Peterson, Kauai's Malia Manuel who again looked like
the girl to beat posting the only perfect 10 in women's competition and
another Kauai gal Nage Melamed appearing in her first National Open
final. Although listed as one of the top contenders, 14-year-old
Peterson was still considered a National title darkhorse to the
defending champ Conlogue and Manuel who had earlier clinched her first
National title in the Explorer Women's.

But the NSSA Nationals is where amazing happens and in the
opening minutes of the 35-minute final Peterson took another page out
of the history books when she punted a mind-blowing frontside aerial on
a perfect Lowers racetrack section stunning the entire beach and maybe
even herself a little. The score came in at a 9.0 which all but shut
the door at least emotionally on her three other opponents even though
there was over 30 minutes left on the clock.

Conlogue, Manuel and Melamed fought back valiantly and Melamed
was actually holding down the No. 1 position for a good part of the
heat. But Peterson owned the moment nailing another 7.75 ride in the
final minutes rightfully earning the premier title in amateur surfing.
"Going into the final, I was just stoked to make it that far," an
ecstatic Peterson said. "This was my first year in Open Women's at the
Nationals, and I really didn't expect to win. I told myself I would
have to go big and be aggressive to beat the other girls.

I got the waves and things just went my way." Peterson's
astonishing aerial was the first one ever completed in National Women's
competition. "That was the biggest air I've ever pulled," Peterson
said. "I took off on that wave and it had a good air section and I
thought why not. After I heard the wave got a 9, it was just a huge
confidence booster.

I still can't believe I pulled it, I'm freaking out."
Peterson also gave a lot of credit to her coach Mike Lamm who has been
training with her the past couple seasons. "Mike would come down to
Lowers every day during the Nationals and would time the heats,"
Peterson said. "He told me he was confident that I had it in me to win
and to just go out and have fun. That was encouraging to me."

Conner Coffin, Kaimana Jaquias, Matty Costa, Ezekial Lau : photo NSSA