Coach Andy Verdone
A formidable ex-football coach turned 25-year surf coach for Huntington Beach High School. Coach Verdone not only understands surfing but the importance of an education for surfers. “If you’re going to be the next Kelly Slater… we’ll let you know”, says Verdone, “but meanwhile stay in school. The best surfer in the world (Kelly Slater) finished high school.” Coach Verdone is known for his disciplinary coaching style and turning out some of the best surfers in the world.
Ian Ekberg-Team Captain
In the words of Coach Verdone, “possibly one of the greatest surfers to ever come out of Huntington.” Comes from deep surfing genes and it shows in his fluid surfing style. A complete natural that has to put very little effort in his surfing to make great contest results and turn a few heads at the same time. If Ian can combine his natural gift with physical training, education and perseverance, he could be the next big thing.
Logan Strook
“The golden child”, as Coach Verdone refers to him, is a straight A honor student and black belt in Karate with strong family values and communication skills. He would love to be a world champion but has dreams of college business degrees if the surfing career does not come to fruition. Director Angelo Mei says, “he will be the youngest surfer to own his own fortune 500 company. I may be asking him for work in the future.” Logan may very well be the first surfer on the World Championship Tour to have completed college.
Kyle Kennelly
Kyle is the smallest kid on the team with the biggest heart. A power surfer that focuses more on the traditional meat and potatoes power moves over flashy modern tail slides and airs. He is a passionate filmmaker that has already produced his own short films with his schoolmates. At 16 years old he asked director Angelo Mei for a job interning at Metalstorm Entertainment. “Anything will be fine to start with”, says Kyle, “as long as I can move up on the ladder eventually”.
AJ Collins
Quiet and more reserved than the others on the team but speaks on a level of maturity most 50 year olds don’t have yet. Can surf any wave from 2 to 20 feet. Has traveled all over the world with his father and brother searching for the best waves on the planet. AJ Understands how hard it is to become a professional surfer and takes school very seriously in case things don’t pan out.
Taylor Pai
Taylor is the class clown of the group, never taking life too seriously. He is always cracking jokes at his own expense. Taylor is the only surfer on the team who hates surfing in contests. Only competes out of pressure from his father, who would like to see him become a professional surfer. Taylor’s desire is to become part of the small group of surfers paid to travel and surf big waves. Taylor excels in big waves and has already made a name for himself surfing giant waves in Hawaii and Fiji.
Matt Mohagen
Has grown up surfing the polluted but occasionally perfect waves of Los Angeles. Matt has made a name for himself in a town that has very little surf industry and where one can easily be sidetracked by life in the fast lane. He is home schooled and has to discipline himself in order to get a proper education. So far that has not been a problem, with a 4.0 grade point average and a strict home school supervisor, Matt has found the balance of surfing and education. Matt is a member of the US National Surf Team. It was this accreditation that inspired Coach Verdone to invite Matt to join the team on the trip to Australia.
Allan Kincade
Allan could very well be the most talented surfer out of the group. Power moves that accompany new school tricks make him versatile in large or small surf. Allan has a winning amateur record that goes back to his days in diapers. He clashes with Coach Verdone more often than any of his teammates. Allan has more potential than any one else on the team but as Coach Verdone says, “potential means you haven’t got it yet.”
Quinn McCrystal
Originally comes from the cold, uncrowded and localized Ventura area only to move to the capital of surf industry, culture and history: Huntington Beach. Is the most determined to go pro of all the kids and has all of the tools to do so; a surfboard shaping father, great waves, natural talent and a support system at home that would rival any child athlete. Stays consistently at the top of the amateur contest ratings but needs to overcome his toughest competitor: himself.
He will need to take education more seriously in order to accomplish his dream of being the next world champion because it takes more than athleticism to make it.