National Scholastic Surfing Association

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) is a surfing association in the United States. It is a member organization of Surfing America, the National Governing Body of Surfing in the United States. Founded in 1978 by Tom Gibbons, John Rothrock, Chuck Allen, Laird Hayes, Holly Allen, and Rob Hill, the association was formed with the purpose of uniting amateur surfers from around the country under one competitive association tied to the education system. Since much of the membership consists of students, one of the prerequisites in joining the association is the maintenance of good grades, service to the community, and an interest in the sport of surfing.

On February 4, 1978, a group of surf coaches met in Huntington Beach to form a new surfing association for amateur high school and college surfers.

Those present at the meeting voted to name the new entity, the NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC SURFING ASSOCIATION (NSSA). Several very important resolutions were quickly adopted. Since membership would consist of students, it was important that any fees established for competitors be minimal. A fee of $1 per year was voted for student membership and $5 a year for supporting members. If additional monies were needed, the group decided it would be raised by other means.

The group agreed to do the utmost to improve the image of the surfer and to stress water safety and fair play in the water. One way to accomplish this is through supervised surf contests. Surfers competing on teams are required to maintain the same academic standards as athletes participating in football and other sports.

Another important resolution adopted was one to allow any NSSA surfer to retain his/her right to also surf in any other amateur surfing associations.

The next step was to elect officers that had the clout to put things together. Dr. Laird Hayes, Assistant Dean of Students at Orange Coast College was elected Vice President. Laird was asked to formulate a scholarship program for the NSSA. Since financial management would be critical, Chuck Allen surf coach of the El Toro Surf Team and Senior VP of a large savings & loan, was elected Treasurer. His wife, Holly, was elected Secretary. Rob Hill, a woodshop teacher at Huntington Beach High School and coach of their surf team, was elected Competition Director. John Rothrock, Director of the Student Career Center at Edison High School and coach of their surf team, was elected Publicity Director. John also had a background in printing, thus adding that dimension to his post. Jim Clark, an executive with a large, international insurance company located in San Francisco, was elected Membership Chairman. Tom Gibbons, surf coach at Marina High School and at California State University Long Beach was elected President.

The last item for discussion was perhaps the most important. Since everyone present was interested in founding a surfing association that would last and be meaningful, a Resolution was adopted authorizing President Tom Gibbons to approach the most respected and influential people in the surfing community and ask for their support.

Shortly thereafter, the following people had been contacted and had agreed to serve on the NSSA Board of Advisers: Vince Moorhouse, Director of Harbors and Beaches and President of Would Life Saving. Dr. Jake Abbott, Superintendent of Huntington Beach Union High School District, the first District in the United States to offer surfing as a letter sport. Rus Calisch, Advertising Director of Skateboarder Magazine and Executive Director of the United States Surfing Association. Bill Dinnie, owner of Sunline Surfboards in Huntington Beach and one of the most sought after surf judges in Southern California. Jim Jenks, President of Ocean Pacific and long-time surfer. Nancy Katin, truly the first lady of surfing and sponsor of the annual Katin Pro-Am Contest. Bob Mignogna, Business Director of SURFING MAGAZINE and ultra-hot surfer. Hugh Murphy, a probation officer with the City of Los Angeles and Executive Director of the Western Surfing Association. Dennis Mangers, California Assemblyman from Huntington Beach and long-time surfer. Steve Pezman, Publisher of SURFER MAGAZINE and long-time surfer. Bud Robinson, President of Richton Sportswear and long-time supporter of surfing. Hoppy Swarts, educator, and founder of the United States Surfing Association. Dr. Jerry Thornsley, Superintendent of Capistrano Unified School District and long-time surfer. All accepted to serve.

A few days later, the Officers of the NSSA met and set-up a series of 12 surf contests that would last through August, the end of the Open Season surf period. A mailing outlining the actions taken was sent to over 1,000 people across the USA. Within days, the response started flowing in. Membership soared to over 650 surfers, representing 27 surf teams from California to Rhode Island. Through the efforts of the NSSA Board of Advisors, donations were received from OP, Hang Ten, Kanvas by Katin, Surfer and Surfing Magazines, Quicksilver and others.

The response from the surfers to the contests proved excellent. It indicated one thing; surfers want to surf in well-run and fairly judged contests.

The NSSA hosted the first National Championships in Huntington Beach, California in December of 1978. The contest winner was Mark McDandel from the University of South Carolina. As a result of that contest, a National Team including 12 men, 3 women, and 3 knee-riders was selected based upon surfing ability, scholarship, and service to the community. The Team was composed of student surfers whom younger surfers could look up to as positive role models. The team was provided full competition gear, all especially, uniformly and specifically designed. Our primary thrust is to encourage high school students to further their education by attending college or trade schools. One way we do this is to encourage surfing programs at high schools and colleges. Scholarships were awarded at the Nationals in December with the first $500.00 scholarship named the "Nancy Katin" Scholarship being awarded to Ruben Chappins from Cal State University Long Beach.

From short-range planning, the NSSA formulated its long-range goals. Correspondence from the U.S. Olympic Committee outlining their requirements was studied and we have forwarded a portion of the requirements to them. The AAU has indicated support and encouragement forwarded an application for Allied Membership. During our National Championships in December, we will be awarding scholarships. The National Team's first international competition was against the National Team of Peru at Punta Roca, south of Lima. The NSSA National Team won this first competition, coached by Tom Gibbons and John Rothrock.

The NSSA cannot do these things without the support of the entire surfing community. Early funding received went towards programs that benefit the surfer and work done by the NSSA Officers and Board of Advisors was gratis.

The NSSA is divided into nine conferences nationwide. Surfers from the various conferences compete for slots in the Regional Championships, with those winners proceeding to the NSSA National Championships. Top surfers then earn slots into the Surfing America USA Championships which has competitors from all major organizations competing for USA Championship titles and a spot on the USA Surf Team. Although it has a special emphasis on student surfers, the NSSA membership is open to anyone who wants to surf competitively as an amateur. The NSSA no longer fields its own national team.

Many well-known surfers have competed in the NSSA before turning professional. These include Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Carissa Moore, Kalani Robb, Cheyne Magnusson, Bethany Hamilton and Bobby Martinez. Carissa Moore currently holds the most NSSA Nationals titles with 11 overall while Kolohe Andino holds the most titles won by a male competitor (9).

National Championship Titles

National Scholastic Surfing Association (1978 - 2019)

College Team Champions
Year College Team Champion Runner-up
2019[1] California State, San Marcos University of North Florida
2018[2] Point Loma Nazarene University MiraCosta College
2017[3] Point Loma Nazarene University University of North Florida & Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
2016 Point Loma Nazarene University University of North Florida
2015 Point Loma Nazarene University University of North Florida
2014[4] Saddleback College San Diego State University (Black)
2013 San Diego State University[5] UC San Diego & MiraCosta College (Red)
2012 MiraCosta College[6] San Diego State University (Black)
2011 MiraCosta College UC Santa Barbara
2010 UC Santa Barbara[7] California State, San Marcos & Point Loma Nazarene University
2009 California State, San Marcos University of North Carolina Wilmington
2008 UC Santa Barbara MiraCosta College
2007 San Diego State University MiraCosta College
2006 Saddleback College[8] UC San Diego
2005 UC Santa Barbara Point Loma Nazarene University
2004 MiraCosta College San Diego State University
2003 UC San Diego CSU, Long Beach
2002 UC Santa Barbara[9]∗ MiraCosta College (Red)
2001 California State, Long Beach[10]
2000 MiraCosta College[11]
1999 Point Loma Nazarene University[12]
1998 UC Santa Barbara
1997 UC San Diego
1996 UC Santa Barbara
1995 UC San Diego
1994 UC Santa Barbara
1993 UC San Diego
1992 UC Santa Barbara
1991 UC Santa Barbara[13]
1990 UC San Diego[14]
1989 Point Loma Nazarene University[15]
1988 UC Santa Barbara(?)
1987 UC Santa Barbara(?)
1986 UC Santa Barbara(?)
1985 UC Santa Barbara(?)[16]
1984 UC Santa Barbara[17]
1983 UC San Diego
1982 Orange Coast College[18]
1981 Orange Coast College[19]
1980 Orange Coast College[20]
1979 Golden West College
1978 Orange Coast College[21]
1976 & 1977 Orange Coast College[22]
1970 UC San Diego[21]

∗ Several archived articles at the NSSA website state that UCSB had won eight national championships before 2002 and won their ninth in 2002. The NSSA Facebook site states that UCSB won its fourth in 1991. Therefore, the titles for two previous years attributed to UCSB from 1985 to 1988 are incorrect.

College Individual
YearCollege MenCollege Women
2019 Andrew NiemannPLNU Cayla MoorePepperdine
2018 Jacob SzekelyMira Costa Cayla MoorePepperdine
2017 Corey HowellUNF Emily RuppertUNF
2016 Corey HowellUNF Darsha PigfordPLNU
2015 Jordan KudlaPLNU Marissa ShawSDSU
2014 Shaw KobayashiSaddleback Emily RuppertUNF
2013 Nick RuppUNCW Kaleigh GilchristUSC
2012 Dayton SilvaMiraCosta Amy NichollUCF
2011 Brent ReillyMiraCosta Lipoa KahaleuahiUCSB
2010 Mike PowellUNCW Lipoa KahaluehiUCSB
2009 Marty WeinsteinUCSD Amy NichollUCF
2008 Nick OlsenMiraCosta Lauren SweeneyUCSD
2007 Jon FlickSan Diego State Lauren SweeneyUCSD
2006
2005 Adam InstoneUSD Lauren SweeneyMiraCosta
2004 Dylan SlaterUSD Kristin WilsonUCF
2003 Sam BaughUSD Loryn WilsonUCSD
2002 Sam BaughUSD Liz ClarkUCSB
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References
  1. "2019 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS!". 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  2. "2018 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS!". 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  3. "2017 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS". 2017-07-04.
  4. "2014 NSSA National Championships Complete Results". Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  5. "2013 NSSA National Championship Results". Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  6. "2012 National Championships Complete Results". Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  7. "2010 was 32nd year of NSSA meets". Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  8. "Remembering Saddleback Coach Bill Steinriede". Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  9. "2002 NSSA National Results". Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  10. "Heat Sheet". Surfer. 42 (12): 158. Dec 2001.
  11. "Beach surf team looks to a repeat of last year". Retrieved 2011-07-23.
  12. "NSSA Interscholastic State Champs hit Huntington Beach". Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  13. "NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC SURFING ASSOCIATION (NSSA) Facebook page". May 24, 2012. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  14. "NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC SURFING ASSOCIATION (NSSA)". June 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  15. "NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC SURFING ASSOCIATION (NSSA)'s Photos - Wall Photos (Photo 314)". June 3, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  16. "Gauchos Play! - Surfing". Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  17. "Competition Bulletin". Surfer. 26 (5): 97. May 1985.
  18. "NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC SURFING ASSOCIATION (NSSA)'s Photos". May 26, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  19. "Surfers to Defend National Title". Los Angeles Times. May 20, 1982. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  20. "Orange Coast College (OCC) Surfing/Alumni's Profile". May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  21. Almond, Elliott (May 24, 1979). "College Surfing Rides Wave of Popularity". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
  22. "Competition Bulletin - 1980 OCC Surf Team Schedule". Surfer. 21 (11): 89?. Nov 1980.
  1. Connelly, Laylan (August 25, 2012). "Kneeboarding sees resurgence". The Orange County Register. p. Local 7.
  2. Gibbons, Tom - Founding President NSSA 1978-1980, Senior Vice President NSSA 1985
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