NSSA national championships bring big amateur surfing action to Huntington Beach
Surf City is earning its moniker this week, as the final days of the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships are underway.
The nine-day competition draws an estimated 500 competitors from across the country, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico, to battle it out for the prestigious amateur title, where many pro surfers get their start.
“It’s been great, we’ve had beautiful summer weather, the water is warm, all the kids are really digging that,” said NSSA Executive Director Janice Aragon. “We’ve had great waves since day one.”
Zoe Panettiere competes during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brooke Reed takes video of her son Cooper before his heat at the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cooper Reed competes during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Slater Van Bruggen heads t to the water for the start of his heat during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Victoria Duprat competes during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Maddie Stanton competes during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Eli Sobel heads in for the start of his heat during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Eden Walla competes during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Henry Goldstein competes during the National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships in Huntington Beach, CA on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The event, which kicked off with the Explorer national championships on June 26 on the south side of the famed pier, already crowned divisions such as longboarding, older competitors and non-student surfers on June 28.
The NSSA Open divisions – the elite premier event – kicked off on June 29 and continue this week.
“The kids are just high-performance surfing all the way,” Aragon said. “The sandbars are well shaped right now. We’ve seen some incredible performances so far.”
The final day is on July 3, with an expected bump in wave size expected as a new south swell fills in. There’s also an airshow championship that shows progressive surfing at its best.
“It’s looking like it’s going to be a great finals day, I’m excited,” Aragon said. “The level has been absolutely incredible. Each year, it just soars.”
The award ceremony will happen at 5 p.m. on the sand July 3. More information: nssa.org
