National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) |
 The Largest Surfing EncyclopediaA-Z: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Advertisement
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Tom Curren. Mike Parsons. Taylor Knox. Rob Machado. Tim Curran. Kalani Robb. Bruce and Andy Irons. Bobby Martinez. It's hard to imagine the surf world without America's past and future greats, but if it weren't for three Orange County surf coaches with a vision of legitimizing the sport of surfing, America's sole claim to competitive fame over the past 25 years could very well have been a Floridian kid named Kelly.
In the late '70s, American competitive surfing was in the dark ages. Localism was thriving, surfing was seen as the stoner's alternative and the few competitive organizations that existed lacked focus and discipline. By 1978, the disarray was enough for El Toro High School's Chuck Allen, Edison High School's John Rothrock and Long Beach State's Tom Gibbons to create a surfing organization that would unite all of America's competitive surfers under one common banner. By forming the National Scholastic Surfing Association (where passing grades became a prerequisite for competing), Allen, Rothrock and Gibbons hoped that surfing would no longer be the activity associated with ditching class. And as membership and interest grew, the trio realized that they needed some help. Help came in the form of two bronzed Aussies, 1976 world champ Peter Townend and world title runner-up Ian Cairns. When Townend and Cairns were hired as executive directors of the NSSA in 1980, it was seen as an ironic twist of fate in the quest for world surfing dominance. Cairns and Townend were responsible for crushing the hopes of any and every budding American pro while on tour -- now they were willing to groom America's top prospects? The answer was clearly yes, as a young Santa Barbara surfer named Tom Curren quickly became their star pupil. Although the once prestigious NSSA National Team and well-oiled Townend/Cairns competitive machine no longer exists, the NSSA -- now 3,000 members strong nationwide -- retains its reputation as the most visible and competitive amateur organization in America. In 1992, executive director Janice Aragon moved the annual National Championships from Oceanside to Lower Trestles, and the change of venue has done wonders for prestige, exposure and performance levels. No amateur should think about going pro until he or she takes a crack at the Nationals. And as kids like Martinez, Fred Patacchia and prepubescents like Dustin Cuizon and Kekoa Bacalso continue to use the NSSA as a major stepping stone to pro-hood, the founders' message still rings loud and clear: schoolbooks first, surfboards second. -- Evan Slater, October 2000 Click here to find all the NSSA photos and editorial on Surfline.
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