Nat Young
It is often said, "Great surfers are born to surf." If so, Nat Young was not only born to surf, but also named appropriately. This Santa Cruz talent is set to carry on the tradition of great surfers coming out of Santa Cruz.
Focused, driven, and highly skilled, Nat spends every possible moment in the water. Whether he's surfing the southern beach breaks, or the chilly waters up North, it is evident that he is the real deal. His home break is Steamers Lane and he can be seen terrorizing the place whenever he is not traveling. The influence of Nat's home break and other local right-handers is evident in his very mature backhand approach. Most grown surfers, dream of being able to do a backside snap as precise as Nat.
This past year Nat's surfing and competitive skills have developed by a quantum leap. He charged the 2008 NSSA Nationals by winning the Open Mens Division. He has already won two ASP Pro Junior titles, one at Ponto this past summer, and the other one at Steamers Lane of 07. He was also a finalist at the US Open and placed 3rd in a international field of the world's top talent. But what is more remarkable is his recent win at the WQS 4 star O'Neill Coldwater Classic at Steamers Lane, which is one of the most prestigious events in North America.
Nat is also the standout surfer on the prestigious USA Surf team headed up by former top 10 ASP competitor Joey Buran. Add that up and an it's easy to see that Nat Young is going big.
Motivated to go up against the top competition, Nat and his mother Rosie are constantly on the road to all the WQS, Pro Juniors and amateur events. Nat's success has been fueled by his passion to surf, but Nat recognizes his parents provide incredible support, "I would like to thank my mom and dad for all the support, especially driving me to all my events."
Age:17
Hometown: Santa Cruz
With O'Neill for: Two years
Sponsors: O'Neill, O'Neill Surf shop, Al Merrick Surfboards, Nike Shoes, Oakley, Sexwax, Rainbow Fins, Freestyle, Santa Cruz Skateboards.
Goals: Make it to the finals in Nationals, then make it to the finals in the WQS then make it to the finals in the WCT. I enjoy surfing…. Because it's fun. (This exerpt is from last year, as you can see he is on his way)
O'Neill Team at Narrabeen
Nat Young, Luke Davis, Brent Reilly and Casey Grant blitz through the World Junior’s.
O'Neill World Juniors Team at Narrabeen
Free surf during World Junior Championships
O'Neill invades Narrabeen for the World Junior Championships. Get the inside perspective from Nat Young, Luke Davis, Brent Reilly and Sage Erickson leading into the event.
Nat Young Claims the Oakley Pro Junior
For the third straight year, Nat Young has stamped his dominance on a Steamer Lane event. In 2007, Young took home the Pro Junior title. Last year, he demolished the Pro field and claimed the O'Neill Cold Water Classic crown.
An early exit from the Cold Water Classic had Nat refocused on the Pro Junior title once again. With a bombing swell and talented Pro Junior field, Young showed the world that he is the man to beat in Santa Cruz. Using his local knowledge, Young picked off a few bombs at Middle Peak and bested his competition in a convincing Oakley Pro Junior Win. The Pride of the Westside reigns…
Massive Swell, Incredible surfing in the OʼNeill Cold Water Classic
It was a day in which history was made at the OʼNeill Cold Water Classic California, as the massive swell that had been forecast finally hit Steamer Lane with force.
As the sets hit triple to quadruple overhead, producing the biggest conditions this competition has seen in its 12-year history, jet skis were deployed to help the surfers through the turmoil.
"This is the biggest swell weʼve seen here this season," said local surfer and OʼNeill Wetsuits Marketing Manager, Kieran Horn, who won this competition in 2003, and is now the only Santa Cruz surfer through to the quarterfinals.
In addition, the first ever OʼNeill Cold Water Classic Series winner was decided today and will be presented with the award after the finals tomorrow. Australian Blake Thornton has claimed the staggering US$50,000 prize money despite being knocked out in the round of 96 here in Santa Cruz after both Jarrad Howse and Adam Melling failed to reach the points they needed to beat Blake to the prize.
Jarrad was knocked out in the round of 48 in a heat, which saw Adam Melling take victory. However needing to reach the finals to claim the prize, Adam was ousted by his fellow ʻLordʼ from the finals of the Cold Water Classic Scotland, Lord Luke Munro.
"I donʼt feel too guilty about knocking him out of the running for the $50,000," said Luke. "Especially after seeing what happened to Jarrad Howse today who was extremely unlucky not to make it through by the tiniest margin."
In the huge swell, it wasnʼt easy work for most of the surfers out in the water today "Iʼve had a good day, Iʼm in the quarterfinals," said Damien Fahrenfort who won his round 16 heat over OʼNeill Cold Water Classic Canada runner up Jay Thompson. "But it was a lot of work," he said. "A lot more than I am used to."
"Everyone complains when itʼs small and everyone complains when itʼs too big. But you canʼt complain about the paddling because of the skis. This is better conditions than most World Tour surfers get," said Damien.
One of those World Tour surfers, and currently world number three, Adriano De Souza, was out there battling strong in the swell to also make it through to the quarterfinals.
"It was a tough day today," said Adriano. "The conditions are pretty big - like eight to ten feet. I am stoked to make it to the quarters. Iʼm enjoying myself here in Santa Cruz."
The day kicked off in the round of 48, and the ASP WQS 6 Star Prime event took full advantage of the epic swell to move though both the rounds of 24 and 16 - even changing location midway through the round of 16 - to set up a day of finals on Sunday.
Cory Lopez, another quarterfinalist who was first to surf when the competition moved down the point to Indicators said: "There were some pretty decent waves this morning out on the point. But the swell has picked up about four to five feet bigger and it became a madhouse out the back. Tomorrow, however, looks like great conditions," he said. "I canʼt wait."
The next call for the final day of competition will be Sunday November 8th at 7.30am
Nat Young Wins Cold Water Classic
Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA) won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic in great four-to-six foot surf in front of his home crowd at Steamer Lane. Young defeated fellow finalists Chris Waring (Seal Beach, CA), 21, Granger Larsen (Lahaina, HI), 18, and Sean Moody (North Shore, HI), 25, and reclaimed the O’Neill Cold Water Classic title for the Santa Cruz locals in a close Final.
The ASP WQS offers valuable ratings points towards qualification for the ASP World Tour. Each surfer looks to earn a top 15 position on the ASP WQS by year’s end in order to qualify for the ASP Dream Tour for the following year.
Young came out on top after a nail-biting Final against his fellow competitors. The Steamer Lane local displayed some of the best backside surfing throughout the event and continued his amazing form to claim the O’Neill Cold Water Classic win.
“I’m super excited,” Young said. “I lost in the junior’s and just wanted to do good in this. Just making the Final in this was good, and to win it…”
Young’s Final berth came after a long day of competition. The goofy-footer won both his Quarterfinals and Semifinals heats in the last few minutes of each heat on the way to his event victory. Young ousted fellow Santa Cruz locals Jason Collins (Santa Cruz, CA), 34, and Randy Bonds (Santa Cruz, CA), 31, in his Semifinals heat, taking top honors over his local idols.
“It’s been a long day,” Young said. “I’ve been in my wetsuit since about 7 a.m. and I squeaked through a couple of heats and made the Final and everyone was surfing so good.”
Young also finished second on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series and will go to Australia to represent America at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. Young is looking forward to his first experience at the contest in Narrabeen, Australia.
“It’s my first time in that contest, so I’m excited,” Young said. “There’s a bunch of good guys there and it’s going to be a great learning experience.
Larsen, who finished third, caught a wave in the last few seconds of the Final and could have potentially stolen the lead from Young. Unfortunately for Larsen, he did not find the score needed to take the win, but still was happy with his first ASP WQS Final appearance.
“This is my first WQS Final so I’m really psyched right now,” Larsen said. “I’m just stoked to be in the Final and I’m super psyched, just over the moon.”
Larsen ousted local standout Bud Freitas (Santa Cruz, CA), 24, with an impressive performance in his Semifinals heat. Freitas had been unstoppable up until the Semifinals, earning some of the event’s highest scores, but Larsen notched the score needed in the last few minutes of his heat to end the local’s chances at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic title.
“My board was working good on those medium sized ones, and those are the best waves that come in,” Larsen said. “I had one that was a full horseshoe that was coming at me and I was able to hit it at the end.”
The O’Neill Cold Water Classic also marked the final event on the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series, an ASP specialty series, which offered an additional $ 15,000 prize purse to the series winner. Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA), 27, claimed this year’s Trifecta title and $ 10,000 paycheck by advancing into the Semifinals.
“I’m so stoked,” Byrne said. “I knew I had a lot of ground to make up in the beginning because of Asher (Nolan), and Kieran (Horn) is almost guaranteed a Final here every time, so I wasn’t stressed until the last day or two. I couldn’t even sleep last night.”
Asher Nolan (Jacksonville, FL), 30, with an equal 33rd finish in the O’Neill Cold Water Classic came in second on the Trifecta to pocket $ 3,500. Nate Yeomans (San Clemente, CA) who didn’t compete in the event, finished third and garnered $ 1,500 in the final Trifecta standings thanks to a strong performance at Lower Trestles and the win at the Oakley Newport Beach Pro.
Complete results, images and video highlights available at www.coldwaterclassic.net
Special thanks to the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, Oakley Pro Junior and Macy’s CA Trifecta supporting sponsors: O’Neill, Oakley, Macy’s, Red Bull, Coors, Fosters, Palm, SURFER Magazine, SURFING Magazine, WaveWatch.com and FUEL TV. For more information on the Macy's California Trifecta Surf Series visit www.catrifecta.com
O’Neill Cold Water Classic Results:
Final:
1 – Nat Young (USA) 13.87
2 – Chris Waring (USA) 13.84
3 – Granger Larsen (HAW) 12.93
4 – Sean Moody (HAW) 11.94
Semifinals: (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Granger Larsen (HAW) 13.87, Chris Waring (USA) 13.84, Micah Byrne (USA) 13.36, Bud Freitas (USA) 6.80
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 12.67, Sean Moody (USA) 12.43, Randy Bonds (USA) 11.00, Jason Collins (USA) 7.60
Quarterfinals: (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Micah Byrne (USA) 10.77, Granger Larsen (HAW) 9.37, David Gonsalves (HAW) 7.50, Mason Ho (HAW) 7.34
Heat 2: Bud Freitas (USA) 13.50, Chris Waring (USA) 11.50, Chad Compton (USA) 10.40, Blake Howard (USA) 7.24
Heat 3: Jason Collins (USA) 14.66, Randy Bonds (USA) 11.16, Matt King (USA) 8.10, Kyle Garson (USA) 7.34
Heat 4: Nat Young (USA) 14.67, Sean Moody (HAW) 10.80, Shaun Ward (USA) 10.34, Cory Lopez (USA) 7.70
Macy’s CA Trifecta WQS Results:
1 – Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA) $ 10,000
2 – Asher Nolan (Jacksonville, FL) $ 3,500
3 – Nate Yeomans (San Clemente, CA) $ 1,500
MASON HO CLAIMS OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR ASP NORTH AMERICA CHAMPIONSHIPS;
SEBASTIAN ZIETZ TAKES MACY’S CA TRIFECTA
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Oct 26, 2008 – Mason Ho (North Shore, HI), 20, won the Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships, an ASP Grade-3 event, in four-to-six foot surf at Santa Cruz’s coveted Steamer Lane this afternoon by posting the highest heat total of the event, a near perfect 19.10 out of a possible 20, leaving fellow finalists Jayke Sharp (Coffs Harbor, AUS), 19, Fisher Heverly (Emerald Isle, NC), 17, and Bruno Rodrigues (Huntington Beach, CA), 20, in a combination situation.
All ASP North America Pro Junior competitors have been working throughout the year to compile their top six results out of the 10 events on the series in hopes of finishing in the top five overall. The top five surfers earn a berth into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. This year’s top five surfers Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 19, who claimed the ASP North America Pro Junior title, Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), Andrew Doheny (Newport Beach, CA), 15, Travis Beckmann (Vero Beach, FL), 20, and Blake Jones (Melbourne, FL), 20, will represent North America against the world’s finest junior competitors in Narrabeen, Australia, where each surfer will have a chance to claim the title of ASP World Junior Champion.
Ho proved to be the Oakley Pro Junior competitor to beat, jumping out to an early lead in the pumping Steamer Lane surf. The young Hawaiian earned the top honors with an explosive variety of maneuvers, earning a near perfect score.
“It just feels good to know that hard work pays off,” Ho said. “The reward is great and it’s just cool to win one.”
Ho was thrilled to claim a win in the pumping surf. Despite the cold water, Ho felt right at home at Steamer Lane, stating that the Lane reminded him of Sunset, his home break in Hawaii.
“My Uncle helped me with my heats and my board was just really good,” Ho said. “My board is pretty beat up, but the waves were just so good. It kind of reminds me of my home break, Sunset. It’s so sick. I’m so stoked.”
Sharp proved why he is rated fourth on the ASP Australasia pro junior series with an impressive performance at this year’s Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships. Sharp was one to watch throughout the event, but could not top the near-flawless performance displayed by Ho.
“It’s good to come over here and see how I do,” Sharp said. “I just got a little bit stuck out there and got caught up in the hassling out there and I didn’t really get any good waves, but good job to Mason.”
Although Sharp’s result does not affect the ASP Pro Junior ratings, Sharp will surf against the top North Americans in this year’s Billabong ASP World Junior Championships. The regular-footer made a visit to the states, stamping a lasting impression on his fellow competitor’s minds with his performance here at Santa Cruz.
“I’m looking forward to World’s,” Sharp said. “I’m hoping that Mason (Ho) can qualify through Hawaii so that we can have a rematch.
Rodrigues needed to win the event in order to qualify for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, but could not advance past the amazing surfing by Ho and finished in third. Pagan, who also was a standout in the event, finished in a respectable fourth place overall.
Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 20, who did not compete in the Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships, will accompany the top five ASP North America Pro Junior surfers in Narrabeen via the ASP WQS. Gudauskas was the top ASP WQS competitor of junior age from America, earning him a berth into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships again this year.
The contest also marks the last of three events held in the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series (an ASP North America Specialty Series), which offers an additional ,000 prize purse to its top three finishers. Sebastian Zietz (Kilauea, HI), 20, claimed the top honors and ,000 in this year’s series despite his equal 25th place finish at Steamer Lane. Zietz won the Oakley Pro Junior at Lower Trestles and placed seventh at the Oakley Pro Junior in Newport Beach, which proved enough to claim the added prize purse for the junior division.
“Being down here today at the contest, I knew there was a rare chance for me to win the Trifecta,” Zietz said. “Everybody who needed to win just one more heat ended up losing and I just got really lucky. I’m super stoked though, party tonight.”
Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA) pocketed $ 1,000 for second place on the Macy’s CA Trifecta and Fisher Heverly snagged ,000 for third after finishing equal fifth in Santa Cruz.
This event marks the Final contest on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series and the top six surfers mentioned above will surf in January in Narrabeen, Australia against the world’s best junior competitors.
The Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships in Santa Cruz marks the last of 10 events held on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, with six of the surfers top 10 results added up throughout the year to determine each competitors rating. The top five surfers at year’s end earn their spot to compete in the ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia each January.
Complete results, images and video highlights are available at www.coldwaterclassic.net
Special thanks to the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, Oakley Pro Junior and Macy’s CA Trifecta supporting sponsors: O’Neill, Oakley, Macy’s, Red Bull, Coors, Fosters, Palm, SURFER Magazine, SURFING Magazine, WaveWatch.com and FUEL TV. For more information on the Macy's California Trifecta Surf Series visit www.catrifecta.com
Oakley Pro Junior ASP North American Championship Results
Final:
1 - Mason Ho (HAW) 19.10
2 - Jayke Sharp (AUS) 11.47
3 - Bruno Rodrigues (USA) 11.00
4 - Matt Pagan (USA) 6.67
Semifinals: (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Mason Ho (HAW) 12.53, Bruno Rodrigues (USA) 11.83, Cody Thompson (USA) 9.33, Luke Davis (USA) 7.77
Heat 2: Jayke Sharp (AUS) 13.84, Matt Pagan (USA) 9.93, Fisher Heverly (USA) 7.03, Austin Smith-Ford (USA) 5.87
Quarterfinals: (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 3: Austin Smith-Ford (USA) 10.94, Fisher Heverly (USA) 9.50, Nat Young (USA) 9.47, Gabe Garcia (USA) 8.73
Heat 4: Jayke Sharp (AUS) 16.37, Matt Pagan (USA) 10.84, Heath Joske (USA) 10.70, Michael Dunphy (USA) 6.17
Macy’s CA Trifecta Oakley Pro Junior Results
1 – Sebastian Zietz (Kilauea, HI) $ 7,000
2 – Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA) $ 2,000
3 – Fisher Heverly (Emerald Isle, NC) $ 1,000
Nat Young Wins United State’s Top Amateur Surfing Title
What do you do when you win the most prestigious amateur title in the United States? For Nat Young he does what he always does, he goes surfing. After being carried up the beach by his peers Nat did the winner’s routine, slapped five with his friends, hugged his mother Rosie, received congratulations from his sponsors, took some photos, but instead of heading home after a long day he paddled back out in to a crowded Lowers line-up and surfed until dark. Why not? Lowers was going off, four to six foot surfed pumped all week and Nat wasn’t ready to say good-bye to the surf he ripped all week.
It is that commitment that has enabled O’Neill team rider Nat Young to become one of the best young surfers in the world and to win the NSSA Men’s Open Season National title? The Santa Cruz native couldn’t have dreamed up a better way to conclude his NSSA career. His name now sits in the record book next to a list of former Open winners that includes Championship Tour surfers Andy and Bruce Irons, Taylor Knox, and Fred Pattachia.
Young also reached the Junior Explorer and Men’s Explorer finals, but was plagued by a six man format that created an all out dog-fight for any and every wave in both heats. After two tough heats and incurring an interference in one of them the young goofyfoot regrouped and showed the composure of a wily veteran, "After I didn’t surf well in the first two finals I just wanted to get some good waves and surf well. It didn’t matter what I got, I just wanted to surf well in the Open final."
Forever regarded as the more prominent division, the Open Season heats consisted of only four surfers as in a professional WQS event. A less crowded line-up gave the surfers more opportunities for waves and put a focus on surfing rather than hassling for waves but the challenge for Young still remained tough. Facing event favorite Granger Larson, phenom Kolohe Andino, and Hawaiian Tanner Hendrickson it was clear an A+ performance was needed for the win.
From the opening exchange it was clear Young or Larson was going home with the title. Young went to his bread and butter, a backhand that has been developed during countless hours at Steamer Lane. On a long right hand Lower’s wall Young unleashed an array of backhand snaps that saw his fins breaking out the back of the wave with each turn. 9.5, an almost perfect ride, but Larson wasn’t going to go down without a fight. The regular-footer from Hawaii dominated the event all week and earned scores in the excellent range at will. With the Explorer Juniors and Explorer Men’s titles in his back pocket, Larson looked poised to pull off the hat trick. Larson fought back with two great rides, took the lead with an 8.5 and an 8.25. Needing a 7.25 Young took advantage of the thirty-five minute final and patiently waited for a set. When it came Young went to his backhand one last time and dissected the overhead wave to undoubtedly score a winning ride. The score came in at an 8.0 and Larson was now in need of a 9.01.
With over ten minutes remaining the door was still open for Larson. He had demonstrated the ability to score nine point rides all week, so Young sat nervously in the lineup. For Young the time couldn’t click off the clock faster, "The 10 minutes seemed like an hour I didn’t want to have to sit on him." Fortunately for Young the final rang without Larson finding a wave to offer the score. Young’s dream ending to an NSSA career had been realized, "I was shocked that I won but at the same time super stoked. It meant a lot to be carried up the beach by my friends."
Of course the success of any young athlete wouldn’t be possible without a solid support system. Nat’s mother Rosie has shared in Nat’s commitment and pursuit of someday joining the World Championship Tour. Rosie has spent endless hours on the road to Southern California with Nat. His Nationals victory couldn’t make her more proud, "(Nat’s win) was fabulous. I thought it was great; the whole heat was surfed professionally from all surfers. I think Nat has been able to achieve success with his natural ability but also having mental focus has helped him." No doubt Nat recognizes what his NSSA experience has provided him and what enabled him to reach the top, "doing all the contests gave me a lot of experience and familiarity with the different waves and I want to give thanks to my Mom for driving me to all the events, being there for the heats, and being there for me always."
1. Favorite quote?
"If you're not first, you're last"
2. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla
3. Glass on fins or fin systems? Why?
Glass-ons. They're lighter, better and your board is one piece.
4. Favorite surf destination and wave?
Macaronis, Mentawais
5. Favorite maneuver?
Barrels
6. Celebrity crush?
Jessica Alba
7. What's in your traveling quiver?
Al Merrick boards, different sizes for different places
8. Status (Married, single, whatever?)
divorced
9. Favorite website?
myspace and surfline
10. Sounds?
Lil Wayne
11. Biggest influence in your life?
The ocean
12. Favorite Surfers?
Dane Reynolds, Kelly Slater, Bobby Martinez
13. What traits in the opposite sex are most attractive?
All of the above
14. Worst wipeout?
On a one foot wave when a longboarder's fins ran over my head.
15. Words to live by?
"Stop look'n at what you don't got and start bein thankful for what you do got!" (T.I.)
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world
- year: 2007
- title: Oakley Pro Junior Champion
- description:
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- year: 2008
- title: Cold Water Classic Champion
- description:
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